Deledio to prove GWS move was right play
BRETT Deledio has an illustrious 243-game on his resume but the Giants’ star recruit still feels like he has something to prove to his new teammates.
Deledio will play his first game for GWS on Saturday in Canberra against Melbourne after missing the first 19 rounds with a series of calf injuries.
“I probably do (have something to prove),” he said.
“I want to show them I came up here for the right reasons and I can still play the game and offer something.
“They’re an exciting bunch of blokes to play with, hence the yellow boots, I have to try and fit in with these young bucks. I’m just excited to get out there with them. I’ve watch them from afar.”
The 30-year-old said 2017 had been the most frustrating of his 13 seasons in the AFL as he frequently re-injured his troublesome calf muscles. “I have lost count,” he said. “I’ve had a nick in the calf about eight or nine times.
“They’ve never been huge, just tiny things that set you back a couple of weeks at a time. That’s the most frustrating thing – you can probably deal with a big tear and know you’re out for a certain amount of time.
“But the little ones I’ve tried to get the ball rolling too quickly and hence another setback.”
The frustration became so bad the dual All-Australian considered putting the cue in the rack for the season to concentrate on next year.
“Thoughts definitely went through my head that maybe I’d be better off just cooling my heels,” Deledio said.