tigerpremiers
Debutant
Deledio set for big role Sportal
Richmond's number one draft pick Brett Deledio is set to play a major role in the upcoming Wizard Home Loans Cup after showing just why he was rated Australia's best teenage footballer last year during the Tigers' first 2005 hit-out in Mildura on Thursday night.
Deledio booted a goal with his first kick and more than held his own against direct opponents Joel Bowden and Greg Tivendale in the midfield as hundreds of Tigers' fans in Mildura - the city that has produced such Richmond greats as Dale Weightman, Mark Lee and Matthew Knights - relished the chance to see first-hand the Tigers' great hope for the future.
New Richmond coach Terry Wallace was delighted with Deledio's performance and has already earmarked him for far more than just a cameo role during the pre-season competition.
"I think for us to hide him (in the Wizard Cup) would be the wrong way to go about it," Wallace said.
"We have got to show him what it's all about."
"Opposition sides will target him a bit early and put him under a lot of physical pressure but we've done that to him in a couple of our own semi hit-outs ourselves just to see how he handles it and we won’t hide him from that."
Wallace said he had no doubt both Deledio and number four pick Richard Tambling - who did not play in Mildura as he was in Darwin with teammate Andrew Krakouer as part of the Aboriginal All-Stars team that will play the Western Bulldogs on Saturday night - were capable of stepping straight into the Tigers' line-up.
"I would like to think those two blokes could step straight in to getting an opportunity in the Wizard Cup and then it's up to them," he said.
"Don’t expect too much of those guys first up but what they will do is give a bit of excitement to supporters and I reckon that's what supporters are looking for after they have had a couple of difficult years."
The Tigers played just four 20 minute quarters on Thursday night but even during that time, and despite the blustery conditions, it was already noticeable their style of play had improved under Wallace.
"We tried to run and carry the ball and I thought the chip kicking I saw last year from Richmond sides - kicking sideways - was out of the game plan which I thought was a real positive," Wallace said.
While all eyes were on Deledio, it was some of the Tigers' 2004 crop of youngsters who stood out in Mildura.
Brent Hartigan, the winner of the Tigers' best first year player award last year, dominated on a wing and young defender Daniel Jackson, who played six games in 2004 as he completed Year 12, was one of the best afield across half-back while another of last year's debutants Andrew Raines also won plenty of the ball.
And some of the Tigers' veterans also looked in good nick with Matthew Richardson kicking three goals while Darren Gaspar, who endured a miserable 2004 as he come back from a knee re-construction, performed solidly in defence where at times he was matched against former Docker Troy Simmonds - who looked considerably more bulked up.
The Tigers lost Nathan Brown (hamstring tightness) and Kane Pettifer (bruised shoulder) during the game but neither injury was serious while several regulars sat out the match including Mark Chaffey, Ray Hall, Mark Coughlan, Greg Stafford, Rory Hilton and former Saint Trent Knobel.
