Brett Deledio farewelled by Giants and Tiger fans in Grand Final motorcade
Brett Deledio was forever cursed not to play in a Grand Final despite his two teams playing off in the decider yesterday. But he made an emotional return to his former club after the siren.
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The AFL’s heartbreak kid has ended his career with an emotional return to Tigerland.
Brett Deledio played 275 games with Richmond and GWS from 2005-19 but seemed cursed to never play in a Grand Final.
He left Richmond to join GWS the year before the Tigers’ stunning 2017 premiership, and missed the Giants’ first Grand Final through injury.
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He was at the MCG yesterday to join the motorcade of retiring players, and later ventured back into the Richmond rooms where was was greeted with a firm embrace by former coach Damien Hardwick.
He was also seen chatting to Tigers captain Trent Cotchin after Richmond’s stunning 89-point Grand Final triumph.
“I remember seeing him in the Grand Final parade ... and it probably hit home just the reality of how he would be feeling on that day, and going into yesterday,” Cotchin said on AFL’s Game Day on Sunday.
“But to see him after the game was nice. He’s had an amazing career, it’s come to an end now and he didn’t get to taste the ultimate success, but by no means does that have any dampener to his career, he’s been an outstanding contributor to our game and (I’m) thankful for the time we shared at the footy club.”
Injured and unable to play in a now forever elusive Grand Final, Lids wore his Giants scarf before the game in the back of the car as he sat with retired Tiger and former teammate Shaun Grigg.
The pair received a huge ovation from the crowd which broke into a roar as the car passed the cheer squad at the Punt Rd end.
On Friday at the Grand Final parade, Deledio provided another highlight.
He had opted to watch on — just another face in the crowd — as the Giants and rivals Richmond drove past.
But his own disappointment couldn’t keep Deledio down for long and soon he was standing tall in inspiration.
Swept up in the excitement of the Giants’ historic first Grand Final berth, he clambered on top of a nearby work truck at the height of the parade pandemonium.
The joy was palpable as Giants players spotted Deledio there, pumping his fists and waving his hands, and they rose to greet him.
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Deledio has risen above his personal pain and cemented himself as a true Giant this week, even ripping into a full training session on Wednesday when he knew he was no chance of a grand final fairytale for him.
He had left Richmond to join the Giants — only for his former team to knock them out of the finals in 2017, and then go on to win the cup just a year after he left.
And last week, having been injured earlier in the finals series, Deledio watched from the sidelines as his team won their place in the big match, but then silently retreated down the players’ race, distraught, as it dawned on him that the grand final dream could not come true for him.
But he is still there for his teammates, as is fellow injured star Callan Ward who walked alongside the Giants cars yesterday as part of the parade in his orange kit.
“It’s the playing group. We have a brotherhood,” Giants head of welfare, and one of the club’s two foundation employees, Brett Hand said.
“We talk about it but we actually preach it and we believe it. It’s actually ingrained and experienced in our footy club.
“It’s disappointing for Brett finishing up this year, but to train on Wednesday … was just fantastic for him to be among the group. He wanted to be a part of it. He wanted to get out there and have a crack and just be out there for one last time.”
â¤ï¸ @BrettDeledio07 pic.twitter.com/MvUbJRb185
— Richmond FC 🯠(@Richmond_FC) September 28, 2019
Along with player development manager Dylan Addison, Hand is a key behind-the-scenes figure responsible for building the Giants culture.
Hand on Wednesday was the first to console Stephen Coniglio after his own gut-wrenching call to pull out of the grand final race.
“Those guys know they’re not able to be out there but our arms are wrapped around them,” Hand said.
“We include them in all of our functions and meetings. Wardy, Cogs and Brett jumped on a plane yesterday and they’re here with the boys. Like I said, it’s a brotherhood.”
In Western Sydney yesterday, even the smallest Giants fans were gearing up for today’s game.
At just 4-years-old, Bringelly preschooler Malibu Somers is already Giants obsessed and even aims to start playing herself next year.
“Next year she’s getting right into it,” her mother Crystal said.
“She just loves the environment, the busyness, she’s very social and loves being outdoors and playing with people and being in front of the camera.”
Coming from a family of big AFL supporters Ms Somers said Malibu is a natural at cheerleading and will do anything to be the centre of attention.
“She just loves the attention and the whole atmosphere,” she said.
“Just the madness of it all and all the crowds.
“She even used her pompoms so much she wore them out.”
Ms Somers says although Malibu is too young to pick a favourite Giants player that doesn’t stop her from jumping up and down on the sidelines every time they all come out on the field.
Originally published as Brett Deledio farewelled by Giants and Tiger fans in Grand Final motorcade
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