Bush and ‘Burbs: Former GWS Giants and Carlton player Jarrod Pickett joins new Perth Football League club

The West Australian sports reporter Jackson Barrett takes a look at what’s happening in the country and amateur leagues around WA in his weekly column. A former No.4 draft pick has settled on a new club in the Perth Football League. Former Greater Western Sydney and Carlton player Jarrod Pickett has been cleared to the rebranded East Fremantle Amateur Football Club after spending last season at Willetton. Pickett has played at a host of clubs since he was delisted by the Blues at the end of 2019. He returned to Northam for 15 games across two seasons after relocating back to WA and has spent the past three years back in the amateurs, first with High Wycombe and then with Willetton. Pickett’s father Lance has been unveiled as East Fremantle’s league assistant coach for this season. The Eagles — who played as Winnacott before an off-season rebrand — finished third in the C3 competition last season. They were knocked out in a semifinal defeat to Canning South Perth. Pickett didn’t play a game for the Giants after he was taken with pick four in the 2014 draft, behind only Paddy McCartin, Norm Smith medallist Christian Petracca and Angus Brayshaw. The top 10 also included Collingwood premiership captain Darcy Moore and star teammate Jordan De Goey. He then played 17 senior games for the Blues and kicked eight goals across three years after a trade deal that also included Caleb Marchbank at the end of 2016. The 28-year-old also briefly trained with West Coast before the 2020 season. The Kitchin sink Subiaco legend Leigh Kitchin is the latest big name to join Perth Football League powerhouse North Beach. Bush and ‘Burbs can reveal Kitchin has been cleared to the club from Subiaco after retiring from the WAFL at the end of last season. The Victorian midfielder won four premierships at the Lions and captained the club in their 2019 and 2021 victories before becoming the elder statesman in a rebuilding midfield. The 35-year-old won best-and-fairests in 2017 and 2021 and a State game Simpson medal in 2022. North Beach finished seventh and missed the finals last season, with a side that included club product and former West Coast player Nic Reid and ex-Essendon and Richmond player Patrick Ambrose. Got a country or amateur sports story worth telling? Email jackson.barrett@wanews.com.au