Former Richmond and GWS star Brett Deledio will join the Blues for its 2024 campaign, the club announced on Tuesday.
After a 275-game career with the Tigers and Giants, the two-time Jack Dyer medalist will join his father, recently appointed assistant coach Wayne Deledio, brother-in-law, and new Blues coach Billy Barnes at Tongala Reserve for the 2024 season.
Incoming football operations manager Tristan Kreymborg explained that a desire to play country football again, especially with family, played a crucial role in luring Deledio to the Murray Football League club.
“Brett was looking to get back involved with a bit of country football but also play under his father and Billy,” Kreymborg said
“It’s a great get for the club and a good vibe for the league.
“We’re confident he’s going to play a few games. He’s busy (in Melbourne), but he’ll still spend a fair bit of time around the area.
“I think he’s just excited about being able to contribute to the club and play with his family.”
A Kyabram product, Deledio hung up the boots at AFL level at the end of the 2019 season and, in 2021, was announced as a signing at KDL club Girgarre when Barnes was coach of the Roos.
While Deledio didn’t get the opportunity to play for the Roos in a COVID-affected season, he is poised to form an experienced head of the spear for Tongala in 2024, which finished 11th this season in a period of change for the club.
“Obviously, over the past 18 months, we’ve had a bit of a change in personnel, and we did lose a bit of experience,” Kreymborg said.
“The last four or five weeks of the season, we played a lot of kids through the seniors. We’re looking to really develop our younger players.
“Having that experience around the club and on the ground will help those younger guys.”
The Blues have been quick to shore up its playing stocks for next season.
“Not playing finals gave us a chance to get on top of things and re-sign our list,” Kreymborg said.
“At this stage, we’re looking at about 95 per cent of the list playing on as far as we can see.
“The boys are jumping right on board and are looking forward to a bit of a new start with Billy coming on board.”
While the wheels are turning on the senior football side, attention will turn to the club’s three netball grand final representatives this Saturday at Moama Recreation Reserve.
The Blues A, B, and C-grade netball sides will compete for premiership glory.
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