Deledio qualified for the honour when he reached the 150-game milestone, in Round 24, 2011, at 24 years and 139 days old.
The Tigers also appointed outgoing Director Don Lord, and long-standing trainer John Stanley, as life members at the AGM.
Since 1895, 244 players, officials, coaches, sponsors or supporters of Richmond have become life members.
Richmond members also accepted the proposed changes to the Club’s constitution, which will allow for three of the nine Board positions to be filled by Board appointed directors, and allow a senior executive of the Club to be appointed to the Board.
In 2011, the Club recorded its seventh straight year of profit, and achieved an all-time record membership.
NEW RICHMOND LIFE MEMBERS
Don Lord
Commencing in the 1990s, Lord became involved in coteries, and in 1996, served on a subcommittee which established the Jack Dyer Foundation (JDF).
The JDF was established to finance the refurbishment of the Punt Road Oval grandstand, and to contribute to the construction of the new administration area and swimming pool.
Don was appointed to the board in 2001, and became Chairman of the JDF and the redevelopment committee. He has completed 10 years on the RFC board.
Although not seeking re-election, Don is still on the board of the Coburg Football Club, where he has served for four years.
John Stanley
Stanley, 88, was appointed honorary physiotherapist in 1952, serving the club for 20 years.
He attended Tuesday and Thursday night training sessions, match days and Sunday mornings, tending to players’ injuries.
His involvement in Richmond’s leaner years and subsequent successful years has left John with many great memories and player friendships.
Brett Deledio
Deledio has missed just four games since making his senior league debut with Richmond at 17 years and 343 days of age, in the opening round of the 2005 season, after being selected by the Tigers as the No. 1 draft pick in the AFL’s 2004 National Draft.
He has played the last 92 games in-a-row, placing him second behind Carlton’s Kade Simpson on the competition’s current consecutive games’ list, and hasn’t missed a game since Round 18 of the 2007 season.
In his 2005 debut season, he won the AFL’s Rising Star award and then, in 2008-09, he captured consecutive Jack Dyer Medals. In 2010, he finished third in the Jack Dyer Medal and this year he was runner-up to Trent Cotchin in the Club’s Best and Fairest.
