Cricket's loss may be Tigers' gain
realfooty.theage.com.au
Lyall Johnson
November 15, 2004
Brett Deledio
Photo: Sebastian Costanzo
As a fast bowler for Kyabram, Brett Deledio has shown a bit on summer fields, but it's the winter game that beckons, reports Lyall Johnson.
Two weekends ago, 17-year-old fast bowler Brett Deledio ended a day of senior cricket for Kyabram's A grade side with figures of 6-15, having almost singlehandedly destroyed a hapless Stanhope for 62 runs.
He has never been clocked but bowls with fair pace, and some think his figures may be close to a club record - certainly for a junior playing at senior level.
Not surprisingly, the young Deledio is considered one of the elite prospects in his chosen sport, a genuine champion of the future.
But it is a shame for Australian cricket that, for all his obvious prowess, the "gentleman's game" is not, in fact, Deledio's chosen sport. AFL clubs, on the other hand, cannot wait for the national draft.
"I have a bit of a crack, mainly bowl," Deledio said last week. "It crossed my mind a little bit to give cricket a go, but footy's always been my No.1 preference so I sort of dismissed it, I guess."
At the draft next weekend, Richmond, despite having not yet revealed its plans, is considered likely to use its priority pick to select the dashing Murray Bushrangers midfielder as its first choice.
The Tigers - with the likes of Kane Johnson, Mark Coughlan and Nathan Brown - boast a solid core group, but are well aware their list lacks a player who can tear a contest apart with pace and also move forward. A "Chris Judd-type", as it is now called. Perhaps not coincidently, the youngster has his bedroom plastered with photographs of the 2004 Brownlow medallist.
"He can play in the midfield in a Chris Judd-style. He's certainly not to his standard yet, but he moves a little bit like Chris Judd," said Bushrangers coach Xavier Tanner. "He's very quick, a very clean ball handler but I think he's more capable of going forward and taking a mark and kicking a few goals, too.
"I think he's got enormous potential. The key to his game is his pace, but his overhead marking is also quite outstanding, (he's) strong on the lead and good kick for goal."
Deledio, whose confidence has been noted in AFL dispatches, is remarkably pragmatic about the prospect of being selected at No.1.
"I'm not really too bothered; I haven't taken a lot of notice of it. I guess it is good to know that you are going to get drafted. A bit of assurance. Not even a surety but just to know you are looked at to be in the top, I think," he said.
"I'm not nervous. It's my dream to get drafted and to do that would be just fantastic, I guess, but if that happens, well, so be it, but, if not, I still have another year in the TAC to go out and prove myself."
Not that he'll need it. Having attended the AIS academy under the guidance of Terry Wheeler and won under-18 All-Australian honours this year, Deledio is still considered a bit light at 80 kilograms, but has brilliant aerobic fitness and a solid mental attitude. The latter is something Deledio credits to the wisdom of his father Wayne - who played a solitary game for Carlton in 1975.
"He's given me plenty of advice, everything about my game, I guess. He has sort of said you should look to try to dominate every game, I think, and I go out there with that sort of attitude and work as hard as I can to do that. That's how I try to play my footy," he said.
Notwithstanding a bout of glandular fever before the AFL's draft camp this year, which left him unable to train until the week before, Deledio scored well in most tests at the camp and had no serious injury in his junior career.
In year 11 at school this year, Deledio hopes to finish his VCE in 2005 to further his interest in a job as a property investor.
Tanner, however, is in no doubt that Deledio has the option of an AFL career and is up there with other Bushranger products Justin Koschitzke (St Kilda) and Kane Tenace (Geelong), saying:
"I think Brett is right up with the best of them and could well prove to be, in the long run, the very best of them."
BRETT DELEDIO
Murray Bushrangers
Born: April 18, 1987
Lives: Kyabram
Height: 189 centimetres
Weight: 80 kilograms
Junior All-Australian 2004
DRAFT CAMP RESULTS
20-metre sprint: 2.9 seconds (4th overall)
Standing vertical jump: 68 centimetres (4th)
Running vertical jump: 92cm (4th)
Hand span: 25.5cm (2nd largest)
WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT DELEDIO
KEVIN SHEEHAN, AFL talent manager: "Deledio's the real all-rounder, with no obvious faults. He can play anywhere, back flank, midfield, forward. At 187 centimetres or so he's the perfect size for a medium-size player. He was in the top four for his pace. He can mark the ball in a competitive situation, he's got terrific spring."
XAVIER TANNER, Murray Bushrangers coach: "He's going to be an outstanding prospect and I think he will be a 10-year player somewhere. I've got every confidence in him. I think if (Richmond) were to take him he'd certainly play senior football next year, I've got no doubt about that."
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