Career : 1975
Debut and Only Game : Round 10, 1975 vs Fitzroy, aged 21 years, 318 days
Carlton Player No. 852
Goals : 0
Guernsey No. 22 (1975).
Height : 186 cm (6 ft. 1 in.)
Weight : 86.5 kg (13 stone, 9 lbs.)
DOB : 29 November, 1955
Unfortunately for Wayne Deledio, his brief VFL career at Carlton has become a trivia subject in light of the emergence of his talented son Brett, who was selected by Richmond at number 1 in the 2004 AFL Draft. Brett Deledio won the AFL Rising Star Award in 2005, and the Tigers’ Best and Fairest in 2008 – 33 years after his father’s career spanned less than one quarter against Fitzroy at the Junction Oval, St Kilda in round 10, 1975.
On that cloudy Saturday afternoon, Fitzroy led the Blues by 15 points at three-quarter time, so Carlton coach John Nicholls sent his 19th and 20th men; Wayne Deledio and Russell Ohlsen, on to the field early in the last term. They kick-started a Carlton revival, and the visitors kicked 6.1 to 2.1 to snatch victory by 9 points.
Originally recruited by the Navy Blues from Dunolly in central Victoria, Deledio wore guernsey number 22 during his short stay at Princes Park. A defender, he often played Reserves football in the same team as his older brother Ron. But after just that single season with the Blues, Deledio asked for a clearance to VFA club Brunswick in 1976. Although he seemed to settle in a full-back for the Wicks and put in some solid efforts, he lasted only two seasons (1977-78) before heading back home to the bush to Dunolly the following year.
Deledio won the senior's competition best and fairest Maryborough Castlemaine District Football League (MCDFL) in 1974 whilst playing for Dunolly.