- Pickett doesn’t have much to show for his stellar football career
- He alleges that his former agent stole money from him
- He says his children ask him where all the money has gone.
Football great Byron Pickett has opened up about his heartbreaking financial problems since retiring and having to explain to his children why he doesn’t have a car or a house.
The dual premiership star who played for North Melbourne, Port Adelaide and Melbourne was a standout in his prime, with his earth-shattering punches and huge kicks giving his opponents nightmares.
While playing for Port, he was paid nearly $284,000 per season before taxes, but today Pickett has nothing to show for his 11-year career.
The 46-year-old Australian still rents, has no car and had to explain to his children where all the money went.
Byron Pickett (pictured with his family outside an Adelaide court this week) has spoken out about his heartbreaking financial problems since retiring.
The football great (pictured playing for Port Adelaide in 2005) was known for his tough play and has been recognized as one of the greatest Indigenous stars in AFL history.
“Kids have asked me over the years, ‘Where’s the money?’ What happened? What did you do?” Pickett said. The advertiser.
‘Dad, you played AFL for 11 years but we don’t even have a car, we don’t have a house. Where did all the money go?
“I didn’t have an answer for them.”
The football champion claims his former agent Kym Richardson stole more than $250,000 in cash from him, and Pickett is now taking legal action against the AFL Players’ Association, alleging a breach of duty of care.
Pickett alleges that Richardson withdrew $253,920 without his permission from a bank account opened in trust for him in December 2001.
“Kym had exclusive control over the Pickett account’s ATM card, checkbook and internet banking,” a statement of claim filed in South Australia’s Supreme Court alleges.
The footballer accuses his former agent of profiting from real estate deals that he did not understand.
Pickett says he will continue his legal battle for the sake of his family
Pickett intends to “get back what I deserve” and will continue legal action.
“I don’t really do it for myself,” he said. “I do it for my children, for my family.”
Richardson has said the allegations against him are “absolutely false.”
“I respected Byron and took great care of him, even saving or resurrecting his AFL playing career on several occasions,” he said.
“As far as I know, a considerable period of time has passed, Byron took care of his own finances from his first year in 1997 until 2001. The trust was not opened until 2001.”
The great played in 204 AFL games and was a big part of the flag-winning seasons for the Kangaroos in 1999 and Port in 2004.
He won the Norm Smith Medal as best on ground in the Power’s 2004 grand final victory over Brisbane and is a proud member of the Indigenous Team of the Century.
Pickett retired after playing the 2007 season with the Demons, finishing his career with 204 games and 177 goals to his name.