In an interview with The Age newspaper, the 22-year old has opened up about how tough life is when you’re trying to catch the coach’s eye.
From the emotional high of being added to an AFL list, to the arduous training sessions and steep learning curve, to time in the VFL and possible senior debut - it’s a rollercoaster ride.
''You just have to bust your gut in the VFL until you can get elevated, waiting - as bad as it sounds - in case someone gets injured,'' he explained to journalist Matt Murnane.
''You are still expected to do everything, if not more, than the senior-listed players are doing because you are trying to get noticed. You are at the club full-time, six days a week, slogging it out just as much as everyone else, but on the other hand you are getting paid a lot less.”
The rookie wage sits just a touch over $30,000, and Delaney says every day feels like ‘make or break’.
Before the Kangaroos selected him with pick 26 in the 2008 National Rookie Draft, Delaney was working as a labourer.
''I personally had no fall-back plan. I put everything I had into getting onto the senior list, just so I knew that if it didn't work out that I gave it everything.
''But it's a gamble. You've always got that thought running through your head whether or not you are going to be there next pre-season.
''It hits you that you might have to start looking for another job soon.''
Statistics show only 20 per cent of rookies selected in the last five years received a promotion onto senior AFL lists - a startling number which underlines the incredible challenge that will face Tuesday’s new batch of aspiring players.
While some may say the hard work paid off for Delaney after he was elevated onto North’s senior list late this year, Delaney knows the challenge has only just begun.
He already has eight games under his belt, but adding more in a side brimming with talented key position players could prove more difficult than he ever imagined.
Ironically, one of the players he may be fighting for a spot against is his younger brother Cameron who was drafted by the Roos last year.
