On Saturday afternoons at Kyabram Recreation Reserve children in red and black line the perimeter of the ground, watching their heroes, such as Anthony Depasquale or Bailey Tome, dominate for the Bombers.
Wind the clock back 25-odd years and a similar story could be told; only then future number one AFL draft pick Brett Deledio would be one of the young fans watching on.
However, Deledio wouldn’t have to watch Kyabram’s senior Goulburn Valley League matches from the sidelines for too long.
The former Richmond star said he made his under-18 debut for the Bombers when he was 14 and played his first game of senior football the following year.
“Playing in the GVL was everything I wanted to do as a kid,” Deledio said.
“Being a Ky boy, I was proud to play for my hometown.
“I only got to play about 10 games that year before I got snapped up by the (Murray Bushrangers) and played the rest of the year there.
“I had an absolute ball playing for Ky; it was awesome.”
Deledio went on to have a glittering 243-game career at Richmond before playing another three — injury-interrupted — seasons at Greater Western Sydney (32 games).
Although the Kyabram product has received countless accolades — two All Australian blazers, an AFL Rising Star award, two-time Richmond best-and-fairest winner and many more — Deledio still remembers his debut Goulburn Valley League match at 15.
“It’s a fond memory because I think I was best-on-ground on that day,” he said with a laugh.
“Yeah, I remember it vividly.
“It was out at (Tongala) and we had a good win.
“I think my old man walked a bit taller that day as we walked into the Ky clubrooms and got to lap it up for a little bit.”
The former Tiger was in Shepparton on Monday as part of a premiership cup tour partnered with sporting retailer Rebel Sport.
The AFL, AFLW, VFL and VFLW premiership cups were on display at Rebel Sport on Monday and have toured different regional towns across Victoria throughout the week.
Deledio is a frequent visitor to the Goulburn Valley, with family living in the area.
That family connection led him to play two games for Murray Football League side Tongala this season, although, according to Deledio, he is unlikely to suit up for Tonny again any time soon.
“AFL Nines is going to be about the extent of my footy career from here on in,” he said.
“I think I got away with a couple; the first game was a bit rougher than the second.
“I played Rumbalara in the second game and those boys were great, and we had a great time out there and I got to see all their skills that they put on display.
“The first one (against Numurkah) took me back to, ‘Righto, I don’t need to get hurt here’ in terms of being healthy for my girls; I don’t think I’ll be back.”
After retiring from his playing career in 2019, Deledio has turned his attention to player management for Mac’s Sports Promotions.
Deledio manages — among others — Geelong’s first-round pick from the 2023 AFL Draft Connor O’Sullivan from Albury and Shepparton Swans product Oliver Warburton who was recently invited to attend the 2024 AFL Draft Combine.
Having grown up in the Goulburn Valley, Deledio said he enjoyed working with players from regional backgrounds.
“I like dealing with the country boys because that is where I am from and I feel like I have got a good connection with a lot of them,” he said.
“I think country people value other country people.
“They understand the peaks and troughs that come with that.
“Got young Olly Warburton — a Shepp boy — who is going through to the draft this year, which is exciting for him.
“Hopefully, he is going to get himself drafted and we can look forward to a long and illustrious career for him.”