Brett Deledio speaks candidly about why he moved from Richmond to GWS Giants

BRETT Deledio says a dance floor encounter with Steve Johnson at a friend’s wedding sparked his move from Richmond to the GWS Giants.

BRETT Deledio’s waning motivation and “love of the game” at Richmond triggered his decision to walk out after 12 decorated seasons.

The Tigers’ vice-captain only decided on the eve of trade deadline he wanted to join Greater Western Sydney and a trade was lodged just minutes before Thursday’s 2pm deadline.

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The dual best-and-fairest winner tracked the frantic finish from a chemist in Torquay as he sought treatment for his young daughter’s rash before his sister’s wedding.

The two-time All-Australian’s close ties with Giants football boss Wayne Campbell and a blossoming friendship with coach Leon Cameron helped him choose the league’s baby club after an 11th-hour offer from premier Western Bulldogs.

Deledio and Campbell were teammates in 2005 while he met Cameron at a wedding a couple of years ago and then crossed paths on a Port Douglas holiday last year.

Giants’ star Stevie Johnson and Deledio recently attended mutual Kyabram friend Zane Coventry’s wedding together in Wangaratta and the former Geelong champion also helped coax him into a move north.

“It started with (Johnson) trying to take a hangar on me on the dancefloor, to him telling me that I should be up there,” Deledio said today.

“He’s taken a little bit of credit for it, but he’s been fantastic since on the phone and reassuring me that the nervous feelings will go away and you’ll settle in pretty quick.”

Johnson commented on a Deledio Instagram post: “Deledio to Giants, heard it here first !! #talkedhimintoit” days before the Giants’ interest became public.

Deledio has missed 16 games in the past two years after sitting out just seven in his first 10 seasons, further encouraging his decision to start afresh.

“I started to lose a bit of … I wouldn’t say passion, but I lost motivation and the love of the game,” the 243-game superstar said.

“I just wanted to reinvigorate myself and get back out there and play for the love.

“There were some trying times certainly this year when the side’s not going so well and you’re injured yourself.

“It’s something I never saw myself doing, but it wasn’t a decision I made on the toss of a coin.”

Brett Deledio in his new GWS strip after leaving Richmond. Picture: Nicole Gamston

Brett Deledio played 12 seasons at Richmond.

Deledio revealed that once he requested a trade Tigers coach Damien Hardwick pushed him to join the Giants, reflecting on his move from Essendon to Port Adelaide late in his career.

“(Hardwick) completely understood that after 12 years I needed something new and a handshake and a beer and away we went,” Deledio said.

But when Deledio and Hardwick caught up last Monday, the former No.1 draft pick thought he would be staying at Punt Rd.

Deledio and wife Katie toured the Giants’ facilities early last week, but he slept on a decision on Monday and Tuesday night. He then met the Dogs late on Wednesday, just hours before locking in GWS.

The silky half-forward said “it felt a bit rushed with the Bulldogs”, while he explained his recent change of heart on the Giants.

“My wife goes, ‘I don’t think I can move to GWS, I don’t know anyone up there, we’re going to have another child, I’m not going to have any support or anything like that’,” Deledio said in August.

But he said today wife Katie “has been so supportive and backed me in to try something new and to continue my love of the game”.

Deledio was the No.1 pick in the 2004 draft and joins Ryan Griffen, the No.3 pick, at GWS.

The No.5 pick that year — Lance Franklin — was also touted to join the Giants, before blindsiding the football world with a move to Sydney after the 2013 season.

The Tigers received Geelong’s 2017 first-round selection and the Giants’ 2017 third-round selection for their 2005 Rising Star winner.

Originally published as Brett Deledio speaks candidly about why he moved from Richmond to GWS Giants