Deledio makes the right choice
2:29:37 PM Wed 31 August, 2005
Matt Burgan
Sportal for afl.com.au
Outstanding young Richmond midfielder Brett Deledio - the winner of this year's NAB AFL Rising Star Medal - says that playing football at the highest level was always his number one priority ahead of a potential cricket career with his state.
Earlier this year it was reported that the late David Hookes, who was the Victorian cricket coach when Deledio was on the verge of an AFL career, was going to offer the prodigious youngster a Bushrangers' contract - one of only 20 available at senior level.
Hookes believed that cricket needed to take a stand and claim a talented young sportsman ahead of football.
Hookes had Deledio in his sights, but Deledio said playing Victoria was not an option over an AFL career.
"I played in the under 17s (for Victoria), so obviously I was still tossing up then, with the under 18s (football) carnival and the under 17s cricket, so it only happened reasonably late, but I've always leaned more towards footy," Deledio said after winning the NAB AFL Rising Star Medal.
"Dad (Wayne played one match for Carlton in 1975) played it, so I wanted to play it just like he did.
"I had no idea (about Hookes' idea), until I read about it in the paper.
Along with Nathan Buckley and Michael Wilson, Deledio became the third player to win the Rising Star Medal after playing every match for the year, but he still didn't believe he would claim the honour.
"I wouldn't say I was expecting it. There are a lot of good players in this year's group, so to win it is an absolute shock," Deledio said.
"To be put in a group with (previous winners) Ben Cousins and Nathan Buckley and those guys is massive."
Deledio said his first season was a buzz and that started way back in Richmond's pre-season campaign.
"Running out there for the first time - even my Wizard Cup first game - I didn't want to smile, I wanted to be all serious, but I couldn't help it," Deledio said.
"The crowd was cheering and I had the biggest smile come across my face. Just the awe of being out there, playing in front of 70,000 people, is the best feeling ever."
As for a player he has modeled his game on?
"I've always loved the way Chris Judd played, so to look at the way he plays and the way he handles himself in the media - he's probably the biggest guy that I 'role' myself on," Deledio said.
"He's my favourite player, so to be compared to him - I can't really describe the feeling."
http://richmondfc.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=226248