What's the go with Richmond midfielder Brett Deledio?
Mark Stewens | April 21, 2009 09:48pm
WHERE is Terry Wallace's chosen one when he needs him most?
Brett Deledio, Wallace's only No. 1 draft pick in a 240-game coaching career, is not delivering this year when games are at their hottest.
Deledio has had just 14 disposals in first quarters, an average of 3.5 a game.
That equates to a paltry 23 SuperCoach points across all four opening terms, less than six on average.
The trend started against Carlton in Round 1, the most gruesome chapter of Nightmare on Punt Rd. Deledio had one disposal and the Tigers were five goals down at the first change.
The following week against Geelong, he started quietly, but had an impact in the third term when the Tigers made a charge.
Yet in the past fortnight, against the Western Bulldogs and Melbourne, Deledio has been a non-factor when it has counted most.
Tagged by Liam Picken in the Dogs clash in Round 3, he had only four disposals in the first term and one in the second. By then, the Dogs had seized control.
On Sunday against the Demons, Deledio had six disposals 13 minutes into the second term. By then, the Dees led by 34 points.
At halftime, Deledio had seven disposals - one effective kick, three ineffective kicks and one handball.
Again, by then the Tigers were in deep trouble.
No one is questioning Deledio's talent. He is clearly enemy No. 1 for rival coaches hell-bent on shutting down Richmond's midfield.
But at the moment he is like a Test batsman who boosts his average in second innings when the sting is out of the game.
Deledio's overall stats average is OK, but plenty are coming in junk time when the Tigers are all but gone.
Veteran Matthew Richardson yesterday mounted a strong defence of the No. 1 pick in the 2004 draft.
"I hear people talking about Brett Deledio all the time. The fact is he won the club best-and-fairest," Richardson said.
"He's going well. Obviously he's getting a lot of extra attention because he had a great season last year.
"It takes a while to come to grips with that sort of attention. I'm sure he's talking to the right people as to how to deal with tags.
"He'll get around it. He's a hard worker. He's a fantastic player. He believes in himself."
After Round 1, Herald Sun columnist James Hird declared: "It is his next few weeks that are vital to Richmond's season.
"This is the perfect time for Deledio to take his standing in the game, and the standing of his club, to another level."
So far, it hasn't happened.
But with Wallace still alive, Deledio gets a chance on Saturday night to make a difference.
Expect Kangaroo Brady Rawlings to be waiting for him at the first bounce. We're about to find out a lot more about the chosen one.
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,25367715-19771,00.html
