Deledio pens new deal with Richmond until 2012
afl.com.au
By Mic Cullen 8:30 PM Tue 01 September, 2009
RICHMOND’S Brett Deledio has signed a new three-year deal with the club, squashing speculation that he was looking to move elsewhere.
The club’s reigning best-and-fairest winner has been the subject of increasing speculation over the last couple of weeks that he was looking for a new home, but the new deal will tie him to the Tigers until the end of the 2012 season.
Deledio was the No.1 pick in the 2004 NAB AFL Draft and won the NAB AFL Rising Star the following year.
The 22-year-old has played all 22 games for the club this year, leading the Tigers’ possession count and finishing second in tackles with 78, after totalling just 48 last year.
Interim coach Jade Rawlings told richmondfc.com.au a couple of months ago that Deledio was working hard to improve the defensive side of his game.
“The improvement I’ve seen the last two weeks – his preparedness to do the offensive but also the defensive aspects to his game has been profound,” Rawlings said.
“It’s only been two weeks, but there’s been a major shift to his attitude towards playing both sides of the game.”
Richmond’s general manager of football Craig Cameron said it was a key re-signing for the club.
“Brett is an integral part of the future of our club and we are excited that he has committed to Richmond through to the end of 2012,” Cameron said.
“Brett has developed both as a player and as a leader at Richmond in recent times and we look forward to seeing his potential grow over the coming years.”
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