Deledio to take pressure off Richo (Herald Sun / FOX)

[richmondrules]

Deledio to take pressure off Richo

http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,23172776-23211,00.html

    By Jon Ralph
    February 07, 2008

BRETT Deledio as the new Richo? Strange as it might sound, Richmond say they have a full-forward in former midfielder Deledio who can ease the club's reliance on spearhead Matthew Richardson.

The club's bold experiment will see Deledio leading from the square, with Richardson positioned 40m out and Nathan Brown and Kayne Pettifer lurking in the forward arc.

A switch forward in the last month of the season saw Deledio snare 11 goals in four games, and the club sees the change as a long-term move, not just an experiment.

Richmond insiders hope that as a 189cm forward with skills and pace, Deledio might average two to three goals a game in the mould of Western Bulldogs forward Brad Johnson, combined with brief midfield appearances.

"He is the quickest guy at the club, he benches (bench presses) the most (weight), he's got great skills as well, and he's a good mark," Richardson said.

"If we can put a bit of space in front of him and get him on the lead, no guy, physically, should be able to go with him. It's just a matter of how he goes about it."

Deledio, 20, enters his fourth season after last year finishing fifth in the club's best-and-fairest.

"If I wasn't looking to take a step (up) this year, I would be disappointed," Deledio said at the club's community camp at Echuca.

"I feel like I have made steady progression, but haven't really done anything major yet. I am hoping I can.

"I played a lot down there in my junior days. It wasn't a weird position for me to play. I really enjoy it down there.

"You get into the game and have a bit more fun. Not more fun, but everyone loves getting paid to kick goals, and you can be the matchwinner if you kick them straight."

Not only will Brown's full-time return add potency to Richmond's line-up, but Troy Simmonds is also expected to spend time forward.

He kicked 25 goals in his breakout 2006 season before injury hampered him last year, while the improving Pettifer has kicked 99 majors in the past three seasons.

[bluey_21]

  Don't know about permanent forward

[Mr Magic]

Good to hear.
Gives us a genuine shot at 16 goals a game.

[bluey_21]

Good to hear.
Gives us a genuine shot at 16 goals a game.

perhaps, but lids shouldn't be restricted to a permanent forward role. He is a genuine utility and should be allowed to play that role ala Hird. 

[Francois Jackson]

it seems that dont know where they stand with cleve hughes, schulz, ploak and co hence the decision the put lids in the forward line.

i agree he is as utility let him float around all positions.

they should be saying to schulz and co. ship up or ship out

[Darth Tiger]

A #1 draft pick on a 3rd tall forward ?

Surely, you jest !!

[mightytiges]

Good to hear.
Gives us a genuine shot at 16 goals a game.

perhaps, but lids shouldn't be restricted to a permanent forward role. He is a genuine utility and should be allowed to play that role ala Hird. 

Agree bluey. Playing Lids up forward should be used as a tactical measure to create a mismatch on a slower or shorter opposition defender. A waste to have his huge athletic abilities trapped in the goalsquare permanantly  .