Brett Deledio

Taken with the first selection in the 2004 National Draft, Brett Deledio carried the weight of expectation at Punt Road from his debut season, where his immediate impact earned him the Rising Star award. A prototype of the modern utility, he possessed a rare combination of overhead strength, elite endurance, and piercing foot skills that allowed him to excel as an attacking defender, a line-breaking midfielder, and a goal-kicking half-forward. For much of his twelve seasons at Richmond, Deledio was the club's barometer, claiming two Jack Dyer Medals and dual All-Australian honours while steering the team through a prolonged rebuilding phase under Terry Wallace and Damien Hardwick.

At the conclusion of the 2016 season, Deledio requested a trade to Greater Western Sydney in pursuit of premiership success, a move that famously coincided with his former side's immediate premiership drought-breaking run. His three-year tenure at the Giants was largely frustrated by persistent soft tissue injuries, particularly to his calves and Achilles, which limited his continuity and output to just 32 games. He retired in 2019 having played 275 games, remembered primarily as one of the most gifted and consistent Tigers of the 21st century who helped lay the foundations for the club's later success.