I was slack: Brett DeledioJon Ralph | July 31, 2009
RICHMOND midfielder Brett Deledio says the threat of banishment to the VFL and a brutal appraisal from his teammates were the shock tactics that may have turned around his career.
Caretaker coach Jade Rawlings told the 2004 No. 1 draft pick four weeks ago he was on the verge of being dumped because of his total lack of accountability.
Reigning best-and-fairest winner Deledio embraced the challenge and in the past month has played some of the best football of his career, with his contested possessions skyrocketing.
Deledio, 22, told the Herald Sun yesterday the honesty session with Rawlings and the club's leadership group was the jolt he needed.
"I had weaknesses that needed addressing and if I didn't address them I would have been representing Coburg (in the VFL)," he said.
"I just wasn't being accountable.
"Jade said if I wasn't prepared to do it, I would be out of the side, and I very nearly was.
"I guess it was the kick up the arse I needed. (Footy) has come pretty easy, and I hadn't really been told off about that sort of thing, or hadn't been threatened with representing Coburg, not that playing there would be a bad thing, by the way.
"But it really would have dinted the pride. It was the best thing for me.
"I am not saying I have got it nailed. I have got plenty of things to work on, but for Jade to be honest, and the leadership group to be honest with me, was fantastic."
Deledio yesterday endorsed the club's direction, as he:
URGED 31-year-old star midfielder Ben Cousins to consider playing on for at least the next three years.
LABELLED Rawlings a revelation and hoped he was given the coaching role full-time.
SAID the players hoped club legend Matthew Richardson plays next year.
Deledio's inability to cope with tags and win his own ball had some labelling him a downhill skier in what has been the most challenging year of his 101-game, five-season career.
Deledio said being made to face the challenge of taking on taggers by Rawlings, rather than continually moved forward or back by former coach Terry Wallace, had been the best remedy for his troubles.
"In hindsight it was probably the best thing. I have no qualms with the way Terry coached me and I'm good mates with him, but in hindsight I would have preferred to have battled my way through being tagged and work out how to deal with it," he said.
Deledio has gone head-to-head against dangerous midfielders like Chris Judd, Bryce Gibbs and Andrew Welsh in recent weeks and loves the challenge of trying to shut down an opponent.
"At the start of the year I thought I would just do what I did last year and it should all happen. But with players coming along like (Nathan) Foley and (Trent) Cotchin and Cousins, you are not always tagged so you have to be responsible for an opponent," he said.
"It's far more rewarding to do a job and only have 20 possessions, rather than having 32 and kicking two goals and your opponent has 30, too. You walk into the shower and you are hobbling and you know you have had a real dip."
Deledio said Cousins' real worth would be on show when he joined teammates for a full pre-season.
"He probably sees himself only having one or two more years left, but I would like to see him stick around for longer because he has just got so much to offer."
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,25860337-19742,00.html
