Brett Deledio has been inducted into Richmond’s Hall of Fame.
The former Tigers star received the distinguished honour at the President's Function before Saturday's final home-and-away round match of the season against Geelong.
Deledio was recruited by Richmond with the first pick overall in the 2004 AFL national draft.
The Tigers, having closely monitored Deledio’s form playing senior football at Victorian country club Kyabram and in the TAC Cup with Murray Bushrangers, had no hesitation bestowing the No. 1 draft pick status upon him.
Deledio lived up to his glowing reputation, playing all 22 games in his 2005 debut season and winning the AFL’s Rising Star award.
Initially, Deledio was used in the Richmond line-up through the midfield and up forward, before subsequently establishing himself as one of the competition’s elite rebounding defenders.
He shone across half-back, generating substantial drive for the team through his damaging run-and-carry.
Back-to-back Jack Dyer Medals in 2008-09 were just reward for Deledio’s first-rate work across half-back.
He followed that up with a third placing in the Best and Fairest count the following season (2010) and was runner-up in 2011.
Along the way, Deledio became the youngest player in Richmond’s history to reach the 150-game milestone, and he accomplished the feat quicker than any other Tiger as well.
In 2012, Deledio made an excellent return to the midfield, winning All-Australian selection for the first time after being named three times previously in the extended squad for AA selection, and again finishing runner-up in the Jack Dyer Medal.
Deledio was appointed Richmond’s vice-captain at the end of 2012, with Trent Cotchin taking over as skipper.
He produced some outstanding performances throughout the 2013 season to finish fourth in the Jack Dyer Medal.
The now valuable Tiger veteran entered unchartered territory in 2014.
After playing 197 of a possible 201 games since making his AFL debut in Round 1, 2005, and being regarded as the most durable performer in the competition, Deledio was stricken with a nagging Achilles injury early in the season.
He missed four games and then, when he returned, was still restricted in his movements.
To Deledio’s great credit, however, he managed to work his way through the injury issue and go on to play top-class football for the Tigers during the second half of season 2014.
And it was another change of on-field role that was to be the catalyst for Deledio’s fine form.
Deledio used his extensive range of football skills and vast experience to full advantage for the team as a permanent half-forward.
From Round 12 onwards, Deledio averaged just under 26 disposals, 9.4 contested possessions, and he kicked 17 goals – many of them team-lifting ones at crucial times for the Tigers, as they boldly charged towards the finals.
The boost that Deledio provided the forward line, due to his blistering pace, aerial ability, ball-winning prowess and football ‘smarts’, was a significant part of Richmond’s resurrection, with the team winning the last nine games of the home-and-away season to sensationally clinch a place in the final eight.
Deledio was hampered by injury at the start of the following season, but he ended up having one of the best years of his time at Tigerland, kicking 27 goals, averaging 21.6 disposals per game, gaining All-Australian selection for the second time, and finishing third in the Jack Dyer Medal.
In season 2016, a quad injury initially, followed later on by a calf problem, restricted Deledio to just 11 games, however he remained a productive member of the Richmond line-up when fit to play, averaging 23.1 disposals per match.
At the end of that year, Deledio was traded to Greater Western Sydney, having provided the Tigers with top-class value over the course of 243 games in a dozen seasons.
Brett Deledio playing profile
Born: 18/4/1987
Height: 188cm
Playing weight: 88kg
Recruited to Richmond from: Kyabram/Murray Bushrangers (TAC Cup)
Guernsey number: No. 3
Games at Richmond (2005-2016): 243
Goals at Richmond: 182
Playing honours at Richmond: Dual Jack Dyer Medallist 2008, 2009; AFL Rising Star winner 2005; Club vice-captain 2013-16; Tigers life member
