Footy Idol - the AFL's young guns Jon Ralph
Sunday Herald Sun
February 06, 2011 SOME are bluebloods. Others are kids from the bush hoping to transform their lives.
All of them encapsulate the hopes and dreams of supporters and football clubs alike.
They are the new names on show for the opening round of the NAB Cup next weekend. Before long they could be the competition's next headline acts. JON RALPH reports.
REECE CONCA - RichmondAS Brett Deledio said this week: "We don't recruit duds."
So much has changed at Richmond in recent years, with the club's latest top-10 pick sure to continue the turnaround of a recruiting department once laden with horror stories.
Reece Conca, the club's No.6 pick, is a bona fide midfield star in the making.
The smooth-moving midfielder is on track for Round 1 after impressing with his laser-like left foot and composure in traffic.
"He moves very well, he controls the ball very well and he's just a really good, solid player,"' coach Damien Hardwick said this week. "He's really going to complement our midfield."
Deledio was also effusive.
"On the track he knows where to find it," Deledio said. "He's pretty composed and tough."
Is he ready for Round 1?
"Definitely," Deledio said. "I don't want to put the mocker on him, but he has shown he can find the footy and deliver it."
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/footy-idol-the-afls-young-guns/story-e6frf9jf-1226000818161