Three former AFL footballers who have taken vastly different journeys to their current place in the world will feature at a Tongala Football Netball Club event being hailed as a night to remember.
On Saturday, April 13, the AFL’s number one draft pick from 2004, Brett Deledio, former Fremantle star Michael Barlow, and modern-day media personality Dylan Buckley will appear at Tongala Town Hall.
In contrast to former Richmond and GWS Giants midfielder Deledio, Barlow had to scrap and claw his way into the big league.
He was snubbed by talent scouts for the national under-18 competition, instead playing as a teenager at senior level with Shepparton United in the Goulburn Valley league, eventually being picked up in the 2010 Rookie Draft as a 22-year-old.
Buckley, whose father, Jim, played in three Carlton premierships and was the Blues’ 1982 best-and-fairest winner, took the father-son route into AFL football.
He played 39 senior games for his father’s club before managing just two appearances for GWS after being traded in 2018.
Buckley has gone on to make a name for himself in the world of podcasts, an interview series named Dyl and Friends gaining a cult following and leading to him opening his own “content and amplification” agency.
At just 31, he is the youngest of the trio.
Thirty-six-year-old Deledio, Kyabram born and bred, will have spent the afternoon playing in the Murray league with Tongala before taking to the stage.
His father, Wayne, is chairman of selectors for the club, and his brother-in-law, married to his sister, Sheridan, is Billy Barnes.
To complete the strong family ties to the Blues in 2024, his brother, Matthew, will also be playing at different times for Tongala this season.
The club is expecting to pack Tongala hall for the evening, with something for football fans and those interested in the post-career achievements of the trio.
Deledio is a two-time All-Australian player and former Richmond Tigers captain, known for his exceptional skills and leadership qualities.
His father played one game for Carlton in 1975, some 274 shy of what his son achieved in a 15-season AFL career.
Deledio won two Jack Dyer Medals (Richmond best-and-fairest) and will share career highlights and insights from his time in the league.
Barlow’s rise from rookie-listed player to AFL star is a testament to his unwavering determination and resilience.
He has never forgotten his roots, and last year he returned to make a guest appearance with the struggling Shepparton United when he gathered possessions at will.
He is now a development manager at North Melbourne, having coached Werribee to a grand final in the VFL during a two-year stint with the stand-alone club.
Despite facing setbacks early in his career, Barlow’s perseverance propelled him to become a key player for both Fremantle and Gold Coast.
Buckley was among the game’s brightest prospects as a junior, expected to continue the family legacy with his own brand of skill and tenacity on the field.
He has just confirmed he will be making a comeback and will be included in the popular ‘Carlton Draft’ later this year. He will make a one-off appearance for a club as part of the annual initiative.
He is now a dad, which has inspired him to return to the field. Also part of this year’s Carlton Draft, presented by Carlton Draught, will be recently retired premiership stars Isaac Smith and Trent Cotchin.
The Carlton Draft involves half a dozen legends of the game putting their name forward to inject a significant amount of publicity (and the associated funds) into a club considered worthy of support.
In recent years, the program has included clubs such as Longwood, which was experiencing a three-year losing streak and attracted former Geelong hardman Cameron Mooney to the club.
The Tongala event starts at 7.30pm, with early bird tickets available until April 7 for $50 ($70 at the door from 7pm). For more information about the evening, and the club’s men’s day, go to https://tongalafnc.com.au/product/sportman-night/