RICHMOND vice-captain Brett Deledio is out of the Anzac Day eve clash against Melbourne after failing to pull up well enough from training on Saturday.

Deledio appeared to train well and looked set to take his place after missing the first four rounds with a quad injury.

But the Tigers decided he had not had a good enough preparation – having featured in no pre-season action – and therefore unfit to take his place in the side.

The star Tiger was withdrawn from Richmond's 22 ahead of the game and replaced by Jacob Townsend.

Townsend did not play in the VFL Tigers' 29-point loss to Frankston, having been held over for the AFL fixture.

Melbourne heads into the clash unchanged as it bids to win two successive games for the first time in five years.