Deledio to rise above the pack
Peter Krupka
The Australian
August 31, 2005
NOT only will the dux of the 2004 AFL draft be crowned today, chances are his club will be one of the last big winners from a system that has assisted losers.
Richmond's Brett Deledio is hot favourite to win the Rising Star Award from a field rated the best since the 2001 draft, which featured Hawthorn's Luke Hodge, St Kilda's Luke Ball and West Coast's Chris Judd as the first three picks.
The bottom three teams of the 2004 season - Richmond, Hawthorn and Western Bulldogs - dined out on the pickings from the talent-laden draft. They used the controversial priority picks to win the signatures of the top seven names between them.
With calls for priority picks to be done away with, following the perception teams play to lose matches late in a season in order to gain an extra selection, the chance to build an empire on draft day is limited.
St Kilda was the last to create a golden team when it picked up Nick Riewoldt and Justin Koschitzke with the first two picks in 2000, Ball the following year and Brendon Goddard in 2002.
No-one who has watched a Richmond game doubts 2004 No.1 pick Deledio is a superstar in the making. His team-mate Richard Tambling, pick No.4, is not far behind.
The Bulldogs' Ryan Griffin, picked at No.3, is considered the most likely challenger to Deledio for the Rising Star honour, but it is at Hawthorn where the future could be most bright.
Its three selections - Jarryd Roughead (No.2), Lance Franklin (No.5) and Jordan Lewis (No.7) - played most of the season under the youth policy of rookie coach Alastair Clarkson.
This year the Hawks have another priority selection after managing just five wins for the year.
Former Richmond recruiting manager Greg Beck, who got Deledio to Punt Road, is confident the 2004 top draft pick will be part of happy days at Richmond.
"The jury is still out as to who is going to be the best player but I think what Richmond have got (Deledio) is a player who is versatile and will be a 10-year player," Beck said.
"There is a bit there to be excited about in the next couple of years.
"It's unusual for a kid like Brett Deledio to step up in his first year.
"Some kids surprise you because they come on quicker than what you think they would do.
"The kid is smart enough to play on ball, brave enough to play key position and he has the all-round athleticism to play midfield or forward."
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