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Out-of-contract Kangaroos star Byron Pickett yesterday refused to rule out moving to Western Australia to play for either Fremantle or West Coast next season.
Moments after kicking six goals in the Roos' runaway 44-point over West Coast at Subiaco Oval, Pickett admitted he would entertain offers from other clubs.
``That's a big thing. I finish my contract at the end of the year so I'm going to obviously see what the Kangaroos have to offer me and vice-versa from a few other clubs,'' he said.
Pickett's comments were the last thing the Roos needed to hear, particularly after watching star midfielder Anthony Stevens leave the field with a knee injury.
Stevens will have tests to determine the extent of the injury but the club believes he has damaged the anterior cruciate ligament and will require a knee reconstruction.
Pickett had several members of his extended family at the match yesterday. He grew up in Western Australia and moved to Port Lincoln in South Australia with his parents as a teenager.
He has gone on to play in two state-of-origin matches for the Croweaters but said black and gold remained his colors of choice.
``I'm always a Western Australian. I was born here, I've just never played footy over here,'' he said after yesterday's game.
With Fremantle still winless at the bottom of the ladder, it is possible for the Roos to lose Pickett to the Dockers through the pre-season draft.
If Pickett goes west, it would be the second time in 12 months that a Kangaroo star has left the club and joined Fremantle, with 2000 best-and-fairest winner Peter Bell making the move last season.
Pickett said he ``definitely'' wanted to play in WA at some time during his career.
``I'll just wait until the end of the year and see what comes around,'' he said.
There had been reports that Pickett was unhappy at Arden Street but he said that could not be further from the truth.
``I'm happy there,'' he said.
``I'm just happy that we're starting to win some games now.
``At the moment I'm not worried about that (his contract). I'm more concerned with playing good footy for the Kangas and hopefully making the finals and giving it a good shake.''
The Roos face two huge challenges in the next fortnight with games against Essendon at the MCG and against Brisbane at Colonial Stadium.
Roos coach Denis Pagan said the team had to win at least one of those games.
``We've got a lot of work to do. In the next few weeks we play the Bombers and the Lions. They're going to be tough games,'' he said.
``I think they're important games in terms of the psyche of the whole year. If we drop the next two, it's going to be tough.''
- West Australian
Moments after kicking six goals in the Roos' runaway 44-point over West Coast at Subiaco Oval, Pickett admitted he would entertain offers from other clubs.
``That's a big thing. I finish my contract at the end of the year so I'm going to obviously see what the Kangaroos have to offer me and vice-versa from a few other clubs,'' he said.
Pickett's comments were the last thing the Roos needed to hear, particularly after watching star midfielder Anthony Stevens leave the field with a knee injury.
Stevens will have tests to determine the extent of the injury but the club believes he has damaged the anterior cruciate ligament and will require a knee reconstruction.
Pickett had several members of his extended family at the match yesterday. He grew up in Western Australia and moved to Port Lincoln in South Australia with his parents as a teenager.
He has gone on to play in two state-of-origin matches for the Croweaters but said black and gold remained his colors of choice.
``I'm always a Western Australian. I was born here, I've just never played footy over here,'' he said after yesterday's game.
With Fremantle still winless at the bottom of the ladder, it is possible for the Roos to lose Pickett to the Dockers through the pre-season draft.
If Pickett goes west, it would be the second time in 12 months that a Kangaroo star has left the club and joined Fremantle, with 2000 best-and-fairest winner Peter Bell making the move last season.
Pickett said he ``definitely'' wanted to play in WA at some time during his career.
``I'll just wait until the end of the year and see what comes around,'' he said.
There had been reports that Pickett was unhappy at Arden Street but he said that could not be further from the truth.
``I'm happy there,'' he said.
``I'm just happy that we're starting to win some games now.
``At the moment I'm not worried about that (his contract). I'm more concerned with playing good footy for the Kangas and hopefully making the finals and giving it a good shake.''
The Roos face two huge challenges in the next fortnight with games against Essendon at the MCG and against Brisbane at Colonial Stadium.
Roos coach Denis Pagan said the team had to win at least one of those games.
``We've got a lot of work to do. In the next few weeks we play the Bombers and the Lions. They're going to be tough games,'' he said.
``I think they're important games in terms of the psyche of the whole year. If we drop the next two, it's going to be tough.''
- West Australian
