Richmond has awarded life membership to 1988 Jack Dyer Medallist, Michael Pickering.
Pickering received the honour at the Club’s 141st Annual General Meeting, which was held on Wednesday night at the Swinburne Centre.
Life membership is an award the Club has bestowed annually since 1895, in all but five years. In total, including Pickering, the award has been presented to 399 players, officials, coaches, sponsors or supporters of the Club.
Pickering played 136 senior games, 36 reserve games, and 24 under 19 games in his Richmond career, for a total of 196 career games, with 257 career goals.
He was recruited by the Tigers from Melbourne suburban club Vermont.
He started off with the Club’s under 19s in 1981, won their best and fairest award the following year, and went on to make his senior debut for Richmond in the opening round of the 1984 season against Footscray at the Whitten Oval.
It was an impressive first-up performance at the game’s highest level by the then 20-year-old – 19 disposals, eight marks and three goals in his role up forward.
Pickering made 12 senior appearances that season, kicking 17 goals and winning the Tigers’ Best First Year Player award.
The following season, he played 14 games and booted 35 goals, including his best return in a match for Richmond of six against Geelong at Waverley Park (Round 21).
Over the next few years, Pickering provided the Tigers with excellent service, playing across the forward line, plus stints on a wing and as a ruck-rover.
His career at Tigerland was defined by his running ability, marking prowess, durability and copious courage.
Despite having a relatively slender build, he consistently displayed great bravery in hurling himself into packs to compete for marks.
Pickering was fearless in pursuit of the ball, either at aerial or ground level, and he absorbed plenty of punishment on-field without ever flinching.
He was an excellent mark and, although not quick, covered plenty of ground during matches due to his elite endurance.
The individual highlight of Pickering’s time with Richmond came in 1988, when he won the Jack Dyer Medal. That year, he averaged 22.5 disposals and 7.2 marks per game and kicked 26 goals.
Pickering was appointed the Tigers’ vice-captain for four seasons, and he led the team as acing captain on 20 occasions.
During the Save Our Skin campaign, Pickering was one of many players who helped Neville Crowe and the team with fundraising, and supporter group events, and during Jeff Gieschen’s time as reserves coach, he provided match-day and training assistance.
Pickering left Tigerland at the end of the 1991 season and subsequently had two years with Melbourne.
