Billy Picken

William Robert Picken[1] (7 June 1956 – 23 July 2022) was an Australian rules footballer who played for the Collingwood Football Club and the Sydney Swans in the Victorian Football League (VFL). Picken was still at school when he arrived at Collingwood in 1974 from Macarthur as a forward, but he developed into a talented centre-half back.[2]

For other people with similar names, see William Picken (disambiguation).

Billy Picken
Personal information
Full name William Robert Picken
Date of birth (1956-06-07)7 June 1956
Date of death 23 July 2022(2022-07-23) (aged 66)
Original team(s) Macarthur
Height 185 cm (6 ft 1 in)
Weight 81 kg (179 lb)
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
1974–1983 Collingwood 207 (44)
1984–1985 Sydney 28 (0)
1986 Collingwood 5 (2)
Total 240 (46)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1986.
Career highlights
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Despite playing in four losing grand finals, Picken maintained his reputation as a finals performer and was recognised for his contributions when he was named in the Collingwood Team of the Century. A notable example of his exploits was a spectacular mark in the 1979 grand final.[3]

Picken was a dashing defender, capable of taking a spectacular mark and dashing off with the ball turning defence into attack in an instant.

When Picken controversially moved to the Swans in 1984, he was hit by a succession of injuries for the first time in his career. He later returned to Victoria Park to captain-coach the reserves.

Picken is the father of former Western Bulldogs player, Liam Picken and former Brisbane Lions player Marcus Picken, and also the uncle of former Brisbane Lions captain Jonathan Brown.[4]

He also played first-grade cricket for Collingwood Cricket Club,[1] and had the dubious distinction of being the first first-grade cricketer ever to be suspended by the Victorian Cricket Association for striking an opponent during a cricket match.

References
  1. "William Picken". Derbyshire County Cricket Club. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  2. "Collingwood mourns death of Magpies great Billy Picken at age of 66". ABC News. 23 July 2022. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  3. Billy Picken's Famous Mark Of The 1979 Grand Final., retrieved 28 July 2022
  4. Flanagan, Martin (27 July 2012). "Picken's a blue-collar Bulldog". The Age. Retrieved 23 July 2022.


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