News

From Leader Community Newspapers
Reported by Paul Amy
Full article - www.localfooty.com.au

ADRIAN “Archie” Deluca did a lot of things in the two years that followed his departure from Carlton at the end of the 2006 season.

Other than to check on how his younger brother Fabian was faring at Port Adelaide, football wasn’t on his mind.

Asked if he’d missed the game, the amiable big man said quickly: “Ah, no.”

He explained that he was too busy having a blast overseas.

He went to London, gaining work as an accountant, and travelled to Paris, Rome, Spain, Egypt, Turkey, Amsterdam, Miami, New York, Hawaii and Las Vegas.

Deluca is now living at Albert Park and is back at Port Melbourne, the club he joined in 2001, straight out of the Oakleigh Chargers.

Although he can get by without football, the chance to play with Fabian, one of Port’s key signings for the VFL season that starts on Saturday, was too good to pass up.

Fabian, standing 203cm, played 11 matches over four seasons for Port Adelaide.

Adrian got more of a go, playing 46 games for the Blues from 2004-06. He was no star, but Carlton fans will remember him as a lean left-footer whose long arms could pluck a good mark.

Put Adrian and Fabian in a team containing David Fanning, Dylan McLaren and spearhead Adrian Bonaddio, and the Boroughs’ opponents are going to be stretched handling such height.

“It’s a bit of a work in progress trying to play the three of them (Bonaddio and the Deluca brothers) up forward,” coach Gary Ayres said last Thursday.

“If we can get better with our forward entries, kicking to advantage, kicking to the favoured side of these big lads, and get our small crumbers around them, it might be quite a powerful unit.

“One thing it does do is give the players an ‘out’ if there’s a lot of pressure. They can kick the ball high and long and you’d like to think our guys can get their hands on it.”

Much has changed at TEAC Oval since Deluca left at the end of 2003 to play with the Blues.

At that stage Port was aligned with North Melbourne. Ryan McMahon and John Milhuisen (who returned this season after a stint overseas) are the only surviving players from the list.

“At least big Saults (president Peter Saultry) and (general manager) Barry Kidd are still there. They’re part of the furniture,” Adrian said.

Having been off the scene for two years, he wondered about his condition, but he says he’s not far off the mark. “I’ve always done some fitness. It was more getting used to the stopping and starting stuff.”

Judging by his four-goal effort in last week’s practice match against Werribee, he’s adjusting nicely.

Port hosts its 2008 grand final conqueror North Ballarat in Round 1 and will be led out by a new captain.

Luke Cotchett’s replacement will be announced at the jumper presentation on Tuesday night and will come from the new leadership team of Ryan McMahon, Cory McGrath, Johnny Baird, David Pitt, Toby Pinwill and Adrian Bonaddio.