He may be the linchpin of the Richmond backline, but Brett Deledio has hinted that he may have a new role to fill next season as the Tigers' answer to Luke Hodge.
After five years in the midfield under Terry Wallace, Deledio has spent the majority of 2010 in defence in Damien Hardwick's first season in charge.
The 23-year-old said that while he'll play wherever he's needed, a more free-wheeling role of the kind that Hodge plays for Hawthorn, is on the cards.
"It depends what Damien sees in the future for me," said Deledio.
"Whether I go back into the midfield ... to play a similar sort of role to Luke Hodge where he goes back, goes into the midfield, goes forward as well."
"But, at the moment, I'm enjoying playing in the backline."
"We're starting to develop a strong little unit down there which is good."
"A couple of weeks ago we were one of the harder defensive lines to score against."
"After playing Collingwood I think that's slipped a little bit, but we're still enjoying playing against other teams and with each other."
Deledio said the Tigers, buoyed by last weekend's 20-point win over Adelaide, were confident of going back-to-back against Melbourne at the MCG on Sunday for what would be the club's seventh win for the season.
But he would prefer to avoid the dramas of their last meeting with the Demons in Round 18 last year which was settled with a goal after the final siren by Jordan McMahon.
"I'm hoping it's not quite as close as that, it was a bit nerve-racking," Deledio said.
"I think it will be a competitive game where both teams are cracking in and wanting to win."
Deledio said the outlook at Punt Road was extremely bright.
"Some of the young fellas that are coming through, Dustin Martin, Ben Nason, all these sort of guys that are playing great footy, you can see the development in them, game in, game out," he said.
"They bring an enthusiasm to the side and it makes it more enjoyable to see them enjoying their footy and to be able to sing the song."
Asked whether he would like Ben Cousins to play on next season, Deledio said: "It's up to the list management."
"I've got the same old line as what we've been told to give, I haven't got any views on it at the moment."
"Ben's a great fella, he always brings plenty to the table and I get along really well with him, but I'm not giving anything away."