Deledio not ruling himself outHerald-Sun
4 April 2016RICHMOND vice-captain Brett Deledio says he is struck down by a mystery quad injury without a concrete return date.
Deledio seems unlikely to be fit to take on Adelaide this week, but fellow veterans Shane Edwards (hand) and Ivan Maric (back) seem certain to return.
The Tigers star hit out at critics of Richmond’s leadership on Sunday, saying three of the club’s five official leaders were injured against Collingwood.
Richmond’s last-gasp loss against Collingwood puts them at 1-1, with Adelaide, West Coast (away), Hawthorn, Sydney and Fremantle (away) to come by Round 9.
Dylan Grimes’ hamstring tendon injury means Steven Morris will return to take on Adelaide star Eddie Betts who has been held to nine goals in the past five Tigers clashes.
Morris was dropped after Round 1 but has taken on Betts in most of the club’s recent clashes.
In their pair’s past three encounters across 2013 and 2014 he kicked only five combined goals on Morris, while Betts kicked two goals on a variety of Richmond opponents in Round 19 last year.
But while Deledio on Sunday didn’t rule himself out against Adelaide, his coach says he is “unlikely” as his injury lingers.
“It is the upper thigh near the hip flexor. I was kicking no more than 20 metres when it went. It is really strange, I have never had that before,’’ he said.
“If I had a time frame it would OK but I have no idea how it’s going. I can run flat out and change direction but as soon as I kick it’s still grabbing.
“I have to progress and go from kicking a small footy my daughter has to a normal footy.
Brett Deledio isn’t ruling himself out of Richmond’s Round 3 clash against Adelaide. Picture: Wayne Ludbey
“I will try to kick tomorrow and try to train with the boys but if not West Coast the week after.
“I would rather get it right than be out for another four or five weeks again. I certainly won’t be rushing back.”
Maric said on Friday he needed only to survive a rugged Saturday fitness session to take on Adelaide
“We had a really good session yesterday and he felt really good,” Deledio told ABC Radio.
“Hopefully he will be right to take on his old side. (Edwards’) injury was only a one-week thing with minor surgery, a little fracture in his hand.”
Former Richmond assistant David King was scathing about Richmond’s lack of leadership late but Deledio said there were valid reasons.
“I heard someone saying our leadership group was no good in the last five minutes. We only had two guys out there from that group,” he said.
“Myself, Ivan and Shane were sitting in the stands. It is hard for two guys out there to cover the whole field and with Troy Chaplin not out there also it was almost 1000 games out and it takes its toll.”
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