Richmond vice-captain Brett Deledio has echoed the sentiments of the Club’s playing list by offering heartfelt support to the Tigers’ senior development coach Mark Williams, who has been diagnosed with lymphoma.

Deledio, who started pre-season training with Richmond’s senior playing group this week, admitted the news of Williams’ illness had “rocked us all a little bit”.

“I spent quite a lot of time with him last summer, developing my contested ball (work) through him, because that’s what he’s renowned for over at Port Adelaide (where Williams won a premiership as senior coach in 2004),” Deledio said on the latest edition of the Club’s official podcast ‘Talking Tigers’.

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“It did rock the boys, but ‘Choco’ is that sort of a fighting character who’ll really kick it in the guts and give it his best shot to knock it away.

“We’re just behind him, and support him, and really wish him all the best, because he’s a great character.

“We can’t wait to have him back in and around.  He will be with the boys, so that’s the way to keep his mind off (his illness) and keep busy . . . he loves it.”