Deledio a finals chance
Injury-hit Giants starting to get stars back
GWS is confident injured veteran Brett Deledio will return in week one of the AFL finals, with coach Leon Cameron adamant his side has the depth to survive the latest chapter of their injury-cursed campaign.
The Giants have clambered into the top four, winning eight of their past nine games, but another round of setbacks threaten to stall their push for a maiden premiership.
Gun forward Toby Greene and young defender Sam Taylor are likely to be on the side- lines until September, having tweaked hamstrings in the 105point win over Carlton.
Dawson Simpson’s season is over after he fractured an ankle while young ruckman Matt Flynn is unavailable to replace the ruckman due to a quad problem.
Deledio, who has managed 16 games in his two seasons at the Giants because of recurring calf injuries, also failed to finish Sunday’s game at Etihad Stadium.
“They were waiting this morning for some clarification on the tendon damage but that looks really positive,” GWS coach Leon Cameron said.
“He’s probably first week of finals, all going well.”
Veteran Heath Shaw said the disconsolate Deledio was a “sad sight” after his latest setback.
“It’s a tough time for him. We’re feeling for him,” Shaw said.
“We’re going to put our arm around him and back him in when he gets back.”
In better news for the club, Dylan Shiel, Ryan Griffen, Tim Taranto and Sam Reid are all on track to return on Saturday night against Adelaide in Canberra.
The Giants have had a stack of injuries this season, with Deledio, Greene, Josh Kelly, Jon Patton, Tom Scully, Rory Lobb and Zac Williams among the stars to have endured long stints on the sidelines.
“It’s annoying,” Cameron said.
“Our depth has been tested all year. It’s going to be tested over the next couple of weeks, we’ve probably got 14 or 15 on the injury list.
“That’s life. You have to deal with it. We can sit here and whinge about it but we’ve got a game in three days and a formidable opponent.”
Cameron was not bothered by the prospect of recalling three underdone players in week one of the finals.
“We’re not there yet . . . but I’d prefer a bunch of players coming back and putting their hand up than not,” he said.
Shaw noted GWS has been unable to boast a settled 22 during the past two months, a stretch of hot form that included a win over ladderleading premiership favourite Richmond.
“We’re very confident the guys we put our there will do the job,” he said.