Richmond vice-captain Brett Deledio says teammate Nathan Foley can reclaim his best form Michael Warner
Herald Sun
February 12, 2014 9:00PMRICHMOND vice-captain Brett Deledio says teammate Nathan Foley has been steeled by his shock axing from last year’s finals clash with Carlton.
Foley, 28, was a surprise omission for the Tigers’ first final in a decade after a solid season back from the achilles problems that have plagued his career.
“Axel’s had a really good summer,” Deledio told the Herald Sun.
“He was as filthy as you could be, as you can imagine. He’s been here as long as I have and was geed up and ready to go for the game.
“He’s used that as his motivation in the pre-season and that’s what you do I suppose.
“He’s running across the ground and training really well.”
Deledio said competition for senior spots ahead of tomorrow night’s NAB Challenge match against Melbourne was the fiercest he could remember.
“It keeps the pressure on which is good,” he said.
“I noticed it a bit last year, but in our (intra-club) games if you pick your best side and you’ve got your B side, the difference in the games isn’t as great.
“That’s when you notice that you’ve got some really good players ... and some good depth.”
Deledio said Greater Western Sydney rookie recruit Anthony Miles, picked for tomorrow night’s clash, had been the surprise packet of the pre-season.
“I’ve been really impressed. He’s a hard-nosed, inside mid who really puts his head over it,” he said.
“No disrespect for Milesy but I didn’t even though he was up there (at GWS) to be honest.”
Miles, 21, played 10 games at the Giants over two years and turned heads in a recent intraclub match going head-to-head with Trent Cotchin.
Deledio said he disagreed with suggestions Cotchin had struggled with the load during his first year as captain.
“I don’t know about that, his numbers were still pretty good,” Deledio said.
“The only thing he didn’t do was kick as many goals. But he was still right up there with his clearances and his possession rate. I think he’s harshly marked. Yes he’s still learning, as we all are as leaders, but I think he did a great job stepping into it.
“Everyone is trying to help him through it and take the load off with what he’s got to deal with week in, week out.”
Asked about Dustin Martin’s off-season dabble with GWS, Deledio said: “I don’t know whether we almost lost him, I think he’s an easily led kid and he was just doing what his manager and his old man were telling him to do and explore his options — and that’s what every player does.
“But it became really public, and he’s not that sort of kid at all. He’s really quite quiet and reserved and shy. It’s not the way he wanted it to play out and he certainly learnt a lesson I think.”
Deledio has tipped a big season for his former skipper and veteran defender Chris Newman.
“The hardest thing is getting through the pre-season because it’s so demanding. Especially with him having a newborn in October, he wasn’t sleeping that much ... which made it really tough on him, but I think the bub has settled down now,” he said.
“But there’s a lot more grey hair. He’s cut it extremely short now to try and get rid of it but there’s no hiding them old boy.”
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