GWS Giants Brett Deledio is refreshed after a break and ready to tackle the Sydney Swans
A refreshed Brett Deledio insists he’s in great shape for an uninterrupted run home with the veteran confident the Giants can deliver on the top four challenge issued by coach Leon Cameron.
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A refreshed Brett Deledio insists he’s in great shape for an uninterrupted run home with the veteran confident the Giants can deliver on the top-four challenge issued by coach Leon Cameron.
The 32-year-old was rested as his teammates secured a nailbiting one-point win over Port Adelaide on Saturday night but he insists a week off — not the one originally planned by player and club — will see him through to the end of the regular season and into the finals.
Much like teammate Shane Mumford, Deledio has been carefully managed by the Giants this season and a break was always planned, just not for the Adelaide clash.
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“We had a discussion earlier in the year once I got back playing and the Hawthorn game was probably the one that we’d flagged because of a six-day break going down to Canberra,” Deledio told RSN.
“But I just pulled up a bit sore after playing off the back of a six-day break against Collingwood and I was a bit nervous that I wouldn’t make it to that break we’d put in place. So we brought it forward and just allowed my body to fully recover and I’m reaping the benefits of it now because I’m feeling great.
“I’m looking forward to attacking this last four games of the season and then hopefully in the finals.”
Giants football manager Wayne Campbell said the Giants had taken a risk but it had paid off.
“You take a chance when you manage a player and you always hope you win so it doesn’t come back to bite you, but luckily by a point we got through,” Campbell said.
“He’ll play this weekend.”
Coach Cameron said the challenge for his troops, if they wanted to be a top four side, was to now do something they’ve managed only once so far this season — win three in a row.
“It’ll be something I think a lot of us will be aware of, that we haven’t strung three in a row together and as he (Cameron) said if you want to be a good side winning your way through finals you have to be able to do that,” Deledio said.
The bad news for the Giants is that they will be without defender Sam Taylor for at least four weeks with the hamstring strain suffered in the win over Port Adelaide.
But Josh Kelly, Matt de Boer, Aidan Corr, Isaac Cumming and Xavier O’Halloran are all expected to return in the coming weeks.
“Those guys probably miss this weekend and we’ve got a NEAFL bye the following weekend so whether any of them play senior footy or not — Josh is one who would obviously be a chance and Matt de Boer as well to come straight back in,” Campbell said “The injury list should shorten in seven days’ time.”
Originally published as GWS Giants Brett Deledio is refreshed after a break and ready to tackle the Sydney Swans
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