Former Richmond and GWS star Brett Deledio joins MPNFL club

Former Tigers and Giants star Brett Deledio has linked with a Mornington Peninsula club — and could play a “Dusty Martin type role’’, according to the coach.

Brett Deledio of the Giants celebrates after kicking a goal during the Round 19 AFL match against St Kilda at Spotless Stadium in Sydney. Picture: Craig Golding

Former Richmond and Greater Western Sydney star Brett Deledio will play at least two games with Devon Meadows in Division 2 of the Mornington Peninsula Nepean Football League in 2021.

He will pull on the Panthers’ red, white and black jumper against Mornington on Anzac Day (Sunday, April 25) and again in Round 6 against Hastings on May 8.

The club hopes to have him for more games in the back half of the season, too.

“It’s very exciting,’’ Devon Meadows club president Barry Parsons said on Sunday morning.

“It’s a path we haven’t gone down previously but we kind of thought, playing Mornington for the first time at home we’d try and spice it up a bit.

“He’s friends with a lady from the football club and he does some personal training with her young bloke.

“The conversation just got started and she suggested it to us.’’

Brett Deledio playing for Richmond in 2016. Picture:Wayne Ludbey

Deledio, 33, was the No. 1 draft pick in 2004, joining Richmond.

He played 243 games over 12 seasons with the Tigers, during which time he was a two-time All-Australian and two-time best and fairest winner.

He played a further 32 matches over three seasons with the Greater Western Sydney Giants, retiring at the end of the 2019 season.

Devon Meadows coach Neil Craig said Deledio could play “a Dusty Martin type role” with the Panthers.

“I’m led to believe he’s 100 percent fit now, so he’s got to be somewhere at half forward, wing, doesn’t he?’’ Craig said.

“He might even play a high half forward and just go into any stoppage he wants to, and if he wants to go deep we will just isolate him — you know a bit of a Dusty Martin type role for us.

Rowan Nayna of the Western Bulldogs.

“He doesn’t necessarily need to defend, I think that’s a waste of a player like that, defending. “Hopefully we can get the ball in our front half enough that he can either finish for us or help keep it in there.’’

Parsons hopes Devon Meadows will be able to welcome a big crowd at its Glover Reserve ground when Deledio runs out with the Panthers.

He said the club would hold a luncheon while Deledio will also conduct some junior clinics.

“We’ve got a couple of talented junior players he’s going to do a bit of one-on-one training with,’’ Parsons said.

Devon Meadows’ recruits for 2021 include former Western Bulldogs draftee Rowan Nayna, former Port Melbourne VFL player Aaron Johns and Doveton midfielder Lachie Batten.

And Carlton premiership player Dean Rice will coach the under 17s at Devon Meadows this season.