More from Lids' interview:Deledio still struggling with calf issueGILBERT GARDINER
Herald Sun
4 August 2016RICHMOND vice-captain Brett Deledio is racing the clock to be fit to play against Geelong next week.
Deledio, 29, will run today and again on Saturday in the hope of getting his calf right for the Round 21 clash at the MCG.
The star forward injured his calf muscle against Essendon a fortnight ago after missing the start of the season with a quadriceps strain.
“It’s been the pits,” Deledio said of his repeated injury setbacks.
“I really want to get up for next week ... we haven’t beaten Geelong since my second year at the club so we owe those blokes a couple.
“I’m itching to get back out there and play again against those blokes.”
Deledio was cleared of any serious damage to his calf but Richmond is yet to put a time frame on his return.
“Few little bumps (recovery) not as smoothly as I would like, he told RSN.
“I’d like to think it will heal and progress and I’ll be fine for next week hopefully.”
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Deledio also defended skipper Trent Cotchin after former Port Adelaide tagger Kane Cornes on Wednesday night on Fox Footy suggested Alex Rance should take charge at Punt Rd.
“Rancey is a fantastic leader, but Trent’s the man in charge of our group and has done for the last three or four years, and done it really well,” he said.
“I don’t think he’ll be handing it back anytime soon and nor should he.”
Deledio said Cotchin had not been reprimanded for failing to lay a tackle last week.
“I’m sure behind closed doors he would have been spoken to about that,” Deledio said.
“He’s a pretty proud man when it comes to how he leads the team, and how he is perceived, I’m sure he’ll be doing his best to make sure he’s got more than enough tackles this weekend.
“Trent’s pretty physical in the way he plays, and he puts on enormous physical pressure on the opposition, but it doesn’t always equate to Champion Data tackles so to speak.”
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