Brett Deledio says he wishes he had congratulated his former Richmond teammates sooner after the Grand Final

BRETT Deledio spent 12 years playing for the Tigers before jumping ship to the Giants and in the processed, missed a premiership. But what does he regret most about the whole saga?

Alex Rance consoles former teammate Brett Deledio after the preliminary final. Picture: Getty Images

BRETT Deledio on Friday night revealed he regretted the time it took to congratulate his former Richmond teammates on winning last year’s premiership.

Deledio — who crossed to GWS after the 2016 season — spent Grand Final day at the zoo with wife Katie and daughter Milla instead of watching the Tigers’ triumph against Adelaide.

The playmaker sent text messages to a bunch of Tigers a couple of days after they broke a 37-year premiership drought.

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“If I had my time again I probably would’ve been on the front foot a lot earlier,” Deledio told AFL Tonight.

“(I should’ve) just congratulated them and been a mate first rather than worry about everything else that was going on.

“It took me a couple of days for it to all sink in. I sent texts out to quite a lot of the boys just letting them know how rapt I was for them and it was pretty warmly received.

Trent Cotchin consoles former teammate Brett Deledio after the preliminary final. Picture: Phil Hillyard

“(But) if I had my time again I’d probably reach out a lot sooner than what I did. I’ve always considered myself a very strong family man and mates man.”

Deledio, 30, is set to play his first Round 1 game in three years against the Western Bulldogs next week.

Deledio collected just eight disposals in his only pre-season match but said he was ready to go. The half-forward was restricted to just seven games as a Giant last year because of calf and Achilles injuries.

Deledio said he was now comfortable with the Tigers’ flag and it was also acting as motivation for him to win silverware at his second club.

“I’m super proud of them and rapt for them that they’ve gone the whole way,” he said.

“It’s certainly that little bit of motivation for me to equal them and do what they (did).”

Originally published as Brett Deledio says he wishes he had congratulated his former Richmond teammates sooner after the Grand Final