Deledio's star has risen
2:30:53 PM Wed 31 August, 2005
Paul Gough
Sportal for afl.com.au
Richmond midfielder Brett Deledio has edged out the Western Bulldogs' Ryan Griffen to win this year's NAB Rising Star Award with the two young stars dominating the final voting.
Deledio polled 43 out of a maximum of 45 votes to become the first Richmond player to win the award, with Griffen finishing a clear second on 34 votes. Fremantle's David Mundy (19 votes), Melbourne's Brock McLean (15 votes) and Brisbane's Jed Adcock (14 votes) were the only other players to poll in double figures.
The votes were cast in a 5-4-3-2-1 format by nine judges with Deledio and Griffen getting the nod as the top two players from each judge except former Richmond champion Kevin Bartlett, who gave Deledio the maximum five votes but did not give Griffen a single vote.
To be eligible a player had to be aged under 21 at the start of the season, have played fewer than ten games at the start of the season, and he must not have been suspended during the season. One player was nominated from each round of the season.
Deledio becomes the first number one draft pick to win the award in his debut season although St Kilda's Nick Riewoldt, the number one pick in the 2000 draft, won the award in his second season in 2002 after an injury-marred first season in 2001 meant he was still eligible.
The 18-year-old from Kyabram not only played every game this season but averaged 15 disposals, four marks and two tackles per game and also kicked a handy 14 goals in his first season with his electrifying pace already drawing comparisons to last year's Brownlow Medal winner Chris Judd.
Deledio also showed his versatility by playing as a midfielder and defender in his first season while he even played as a key forward in the Tigers' round 15 win over Essendon at the MCG.
His best performance of the season was against Hawthorn in round 21 when he had 26 disposals with his exciting dash around the wing helping set up the Tigers' winning goal in the final minute.
Griffen performed superbly to finish in second place given he played just 17 games for the season after injury interrupted pre-season.
The number three pick in last year's draft impressed with his poise and balance and ability to beat tackles and kick the ball accurately over long distances.
His best performance came in round 17 when opposed to Geelong star Gary Ablett he had 21 possessions at half-back in a best-afield performance.
While future midfield champions in Deledio and Griffen dominated this year's voting, this year's crop of nominees also featured plenty of exciting future key position stars headed by third placed getter Mundy as well as Collingwood's Travis Cloke, Essendon pair Kepler Bradley and Jason Laycock, Hawthorn pair Lance Franklin and Jarryd Roughead, Bulldogs' ruckman Will Minson and Geelong full-forward Nathan Ablett.
The Brisbane Lions headed the list of nominations for this year's award with four while the Hawks had three with reigning premiers Port Adelaide, minor premiers Adelaide, Sydney and the Kangaroos the only clubs not to earn a Rising Star nominee this season.
FINAL VOTING:
Brett Deledio (Rich) 43, Ryan Griffen (Dogs) 34, David Mundy (Freo) 19, Brock McLean (Melb) 15, Jed Adcock (Bris) 14, Jordan Lewis (Haw) 3, Justin Sherman (Bris) 2, Adam Selwood (WCE) 2, Lance Franklin (Haw) 1, Kepler Bradley (Ess) 1, Will Minson (Dogs) 1.
INDIVIDUAL VOTING:
Andrew Demetriou
5 - Deledio, 4 - Griffen, 3 - Mundy, 2 - McLean, 1 - A Selwood.
Adrian Anderson
5 - Griffen, 4 - Deledio, 3 - McLean, 2 - Mundy, 1- Franklin.
Rod Austin
5 - Deledio, 4 - Griffen, 3- Adcock, 2 - McLean, 1 - Mundy.
Kevin Bartlett
5 - Deledio, 4 - Adcock, 3- McLean, 2 - Lewis, 1 - Mundy.
Gerard Healy
5 - Deledio, 4 - Griffen, 3 - Mundy, 2 - Sherman, 1 - Minson.
Neil Kerley
5 - Griffen, 4 - Deledio, 3 - Mundy, 2 - Adcock, 1 - McLean.
Chris Mainwaring
5 - Deledio, 4 - Griffen, 3 - Mundy, 2 - McLean, 1 - A Selwood.
Kevin Sheehan
5- Deledio, 4 - Griffen, 3 - Adcock, 2 - McLean, 1 - Bradley.
Robert Walls
5 - Deledio, 4 - Griffen, 3 - Mundy, 2 - Adcock, 1 - Lewis.