Ron and Wayne Deledio
The arrival of the Deledio Brothers, Ron and Wayne, ushered in an exciting new era for the Avoca club.
In 1978, Ron Deledio, was transferred to the Avoca Branch of the National bank. Ron's father, Ron Senior, was an outstanding footballer, and as a tribute, the Dunolly oval was named after him.
Ron was only in Avoca five minutes before he was signed up and made assistant coach of the football club.
The following year he was appointed playing coach. It proved to be a fabulous deal for Avoca, Ron's Wife, Patricia, took on the laborious job of treasurer, whilst Ron's father accepted a position on the selection committee.
But the bigger coup was the recruitment of Ron's brother, Wayne Deledio, a former Carlton and Brunswick player. Standing 6 feet, Wayne had a near perfect football physique, complimented by a fierce determination.
Often Wayne would finish a gruelling Sunday morning training session by attacking a punching bag in the clubrooms. Such was the fury, one could not help but feel sorry for the bag!
It was a similar story on the field. Late in a match against Moonambel, Wayne received a fee kick. It was a miserable winter's afternoon. Continuous rain had saturated the ball and it could barely travel 30 metres.
To everyone's surprise, Wayne, who was just inside the centre square, prepare to shoot for goal, a near impossible task even in excellent conditions. As Wayne started his run up, a spectator bellowed, "You can't kick that, Deledio," Stopping abruptly, he glared defiantly towards the voice. With total composure Wayne carefully wiped the waterlogged ball on his guernsey, telegraphing his intentions beyond any doubt.
An eerie silence engulfed the fround. Slowly he ran towards the man on his mark. The sound of his boot making contact with the ball was reminiscent of a huge stock whip being cracked. The ball as heavy as a lump of lead, took off like a jumbo jet. As it reached its peak, it seemed to hang momentarily in the dark winter sky before gliding down over the heads of the dumbfounded players standing in the goal square.
Those who witnessed that goal say it is something that they will remember for a lifetime.
In his first season with the Bulldogs, 1979, Wayne Deledio streaked away to win the Lexton League Best & Fairest award by 14 votes. With a massive 35 votes he blitzed the field in the Maffescioni Award with a margin of 16 votes. Wayne also won Avoca's Best player award, the club goalkicking award, and was selected in the Lexton League side.
1980 was an even better season. His achievements included another Lexton League Best & Fairest award with 23 votes, the Maffescioni Award with 33 votes, the Avoca club Best & Fairest and a best on the ground performance for the Lexton League against the Western Plains League.
Personal achievments aside, the Deledio brothers effectively carved their names into the history of the Avoca Football Club in 1980, when they led the Bulldogs to their first premiership in 27 long years.
But the accolades do not end there, Ron coached the side again in 1981 and has the great distinction of being only the second man ever to captain and coach Avoca in Back to Back premierships. The other was Paddy Ryan in 1927 and 1928.
The League acknowledged Ron Deledio by appointing him coach of its representative side in 1981.
Footnote: Ron Deledio was also an outstanding athlete, having the distinction of winning the prestigious Maryborough Gift and in doing so shared the honor roll with his father, Ron Senior, who also won the Maryborough Gift some years before.
As well as being a great athlete, Ron Deledio was also an oustanding clubman who was always first in to lend a hand when something needed doing, and played a major role in the recruitment of players to the club. The Deledio Family has definitely played a major role in one of the clubs most succesfull era's of its 132 year history..
