Good skills: Tiger Brett Deledio tries his hand at a different sport while showing community spirit at the North Richmond Housing Estate yesterday. Picture: Peter WardFame doesn't faze Deledio
28 February 2007 Herald-Sun
Daryl Timms
YOUNG Tiger Brett Deledio doesn't believe all senior players have been tarnished by Daniel Kerr's weekend assault on a Perth taxi driver.
AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou said the West Coast star's actions had tainted all senior players.
Deledio said he didn't find it difficult handling diversions caused by being a recognisable league footballer.
"Look, you have to pick your right times when you have got to do whatever you are going to do," he said yesterday.
"Personally I haven't found it too hard but I can't talk for anyone else."
Deledio said he was sometimes disappointed that league footballers were so heavily scrutinised.
"But that's just the position we are in, but we choose to do it (play footy)," he said.
"You have to set the right example and follow that lead, I guess.
"If you come off a bad game, the last thing you want to do is have people pressure you for autographs and photographs and whatever.
"But I guess you have to put a smile on your face for those people because it means the world to them."
Deledio said he had been unaware of Demetriou's comments about Kerr but said he believed it was a fairly general statement.
"I'd be disappointed if we were all looked on in that way," he said.
Deledio and nine of his teammates, including Joel Bowden, were at the North Richmond Housing Estate in Lennox St yesterday to continue their community work.
Two of the players are at the estate each Tuesday afternoon as part of the "Solid Ground" after-school program.
Bowden, the leader of the community project, yesterday presented the children with cricket bats, footballs, soccer balls, baseball and table tennis equipment, which he paid for with money won in the AFL Community Leadership Award.
Deledio said the children at the estate, as well as the players, enjoyed the program.
"It's good to be able to help the kids and put a smile on the faces," the 19-year-old said.
The North Richmond Housing Estate accommodates up to 5000 people, including about 800 children aged four to 16.
Deledio, preparing for his third AFL season, wasn't fazed by the extra attention he got last year.
"That's just the way it is – that's footy," he said.
"I'm still trying to deal with it all and it's a good learning curve which I'm enjoying and hopefully we can play in some finals this year."
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,21299342%255E19742,00.html
