Stalled Tigers an all-too familiar story for frustrated Deledio
Martin Boulton | July 15, 2009
BRETT Deledio's arrival in the AFL coincided with his once feared football club finishing on the bottom of the ladder, a clean-out of unwanted players and the arrival of a new coach.
Almost five years later, the former No. 1 draft pick has seen a lot of change, but not much on-field reward.
On the eve of his 100th game, the coach who came to Punt Road with a five-year plan has gone, another permanent coach will be appointed post-season and the 22-year-old midfielder has a sense of deja vu.
"It is disappointing, but the future is looking bright here, we've got some good kids coming through and we're always striving to better ourselves," Deledio said, putting his best spin on a disastrous season.
He said the extra scrutiny that came with being the first youngster picked in the '04 draft created "a little bit" of extra pressure, but his situation wasn't helped by playing in a success-starved team.
In his first year — when he debuted as 17-year-old on the MCG — the extra attention wasn't a major concern because he was "just out there enjoying footy" and thrilled to be playing for the Tigers.
He played all 22 games in '05, won the AFL's Rising Star medal, was picked to represent his country in the international rules series and despite the Tigers finishing 12th, the future looked bright.
It wasn't until his second year, when the Tigers finished ninth, that he admits feeling he had to "perform a bit more", and the misfortunes of his battling team began weighing more heavily on his mind.
"It (the No. 1 draft tag) puts the pressure on because you're expected to be winning games for your team, but it's about 22 blokes and not just one.
"If you're having team success it makes it easier individually and that's what we're trying to do — build success and get experience into young blokes."
Gaining experience is one area Deledio has excelled — playing 99 of a possible 103 games since round one, 2005. He missed just one game in '06 and three games in '07 after breaking his hand in round 14.
In 22 games last year he averaged 24 disposals, kicked 28 goals and won the coveted Jack Dyer Medal — becoming the club's youngest best and fairest winner since Matthew Knights in 1990.
Again the club missed the top eight and this season the slide from finals contention arrived sooner than usual.
While proud to be playing his 100th game, Deledio admits he is far from satisfied with his overall performance this year.
"I am still inconsistent … I don't expect to get any pats on the back," he said. "I haven't done anything this year and the side has been inconsistent as well, but it's something we are trying to improve on and something I am trying to improve on."
On Sunday against North Melbourne the Tigers can snatch a second win under stand-in coach Jade Rawlings. Deledio said "everyone knows exactly where they stand" under Rawlings.
"We've put a lot of things in place," he said.
"Everyone knows exactly what their role is, and the main thing is there's been a really clear message … week in, week out."
http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/rfnews/stalled-tigers-a-familiar-story-for-deledio/2009/07/14/1247337122810.html
