If there were any doubts about Brett Deledio’s potential to push into the AFL’s elite bracket, they were well and truly put to rest in 2012.

Deledio became one of the most accomplished players in the competition, producing the best football of his remarkably consistent league career.

The 25-year-old made the permanent move into the midfield, after spending several seasons establishing himself as one of the game’s most damaging rebounding defenders, and he thrived in the role.

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“I’ve really enjoyed going back into the midfield, to come back in and play alongside ‘Cotch’, who has just had an outstanding season, and big’ Ivvy’ (Ivan Maric), who provides silver service,” he said.

“I played out on the wing with Shaun Grigg a fair bit, too, and we looked after each other pretty well.”

For the sixth time in eight seasons, Deledio finished in the top five of the Jack Dyer Medal count. In 2012, he was second, behind runaway winner, Trent Cotchin.

Deledio, a dual winner of the Club’s Best and Fairest, in 2008-09, was also runner-up to Cotchin in 2011, and placed third in 2010.

Just days before the first game of the 2012 season, Richmond rewarded Deledio with a five-year contract, keeping him at Punt Road until at least the end of 2017, much to his delight.

“I knew what ‘Dimma’ was trying to do with this group. I had complete faith in the group, that we were going somewhere special,” he said.

Deledio rewarded the Club’s faith in him, playing all 22 games in season 2012, and averaging a career-high 27.5 disposals per match.

He had 20 disposals or more on 20 occasions and 30 disposals or more 10 times, with a season-high 36 against Gold Coast in Round 16.

In Round 8, he collected the Yiooken Award, for being judged as the best player on the ground, in the Dreamtime at the ‘G match against Essendon.

At season’s end, Deledio was named alongside Cotchin in the All-Australian team, breaking through after receiving three nominations earlier in his career.

And, on Brownlow Medal night, he polled 13 votes, eclipsing his previous career-best tally of eight.

Along with his on-field exploits, and his leadership qualities off it, Deledio can also lay claim to being the most durable player in the competition.

He has missed just four games in his eight-season league career, with the last being in Round 18 of the 2007 season.

In Round 16, he became the competition’s current-day, consecutive games record-holder, with 107 in-a-row, which increased to 115 by the end of the season.

In the final home-and-away round of the 2011 season, Deledio became the youngest player in Richmond’s history to reach the 150-game milestone, and the quickest to get there as well. He currently sits on 172 career games.

As he stood on stage to accept his Jack Titus Medal, as runner-up in the Club’s 2012 Best and Fairest, Deledio paid tribute to his teammates, and the Tiger Army, for his success this year.

“You can’t stand up here without all your teammates... Everyone that looks after me, blocks for me, picks me up off the deck, I really appreciate it,” he said.

“We love winning at the MCG with a full house. There’s nothing better than kicking a goal or singing the song at the end of the game. It’s awesome.”