Brett Deledio can play a key role for GWS in finals run-in

Brett Deledio has made a steady return from his latest injury but Greater Western Sydney has no doubt he’ll prove his worth in the back end of the season.

The Giants “will be a better team for it” on the run home in the second half of the campaign if Brett Deledio can keep the injuries at bay, insists the club’s general manager of football.

A variety of niggles, strains and soft tissue issues have disrupted his time at GWS but Wayne Campbell believes more focus should be placed on the 32-year-old’s ability to hit the ground running when thrust back into the side.

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Deledio played the opening two rounds of the 2019 campaign before succumbing to a calf injury.

He returned for the Round 9 demolition of Carlton (19 disposals, three goals) and backed up in last weekend’s win over Melbourne at the MCG (18 disposals, three marks).

The strategy will be a week by week approach with Deledio unlikely to feature in every remaining game but Campbell is confident that when utilised the club has a player who can have an impact.

“His (injury) troubles have been well documented,” Campbell said.

“I think what probably hasn’t been as documented is that when he’s played he’s played to a really, really high level. In his two finals last year, after missing whatever he missed, five or six before that, he’s probably in our top five players.

Brett Deledio has 18 disposals in last week’s win over the Demons. Picture: AAP

“And again, in the last week to come in and play the way he played after missing four or five weeks is testament to the quality of the player.

“We know he’s got some issues with his calves, he needs a bit of luck. We’ve changed things 15 times in terms of what he does and when he does it.

“If he plays most games in the back half of the year we’ll be a better team for it. We just hope he gets on a roll.”

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As for whether Deledio goes around again in 2020, that’s a discussion for club and player further down the line.

“We’d love him to play every game for the rest of the year and then look at it then,” Campbell said.

“But I don’t think he’s too phased about it. He’s really excited to be playing with the teammates he loves and being able to get out there and play as opposed to just being in rehab. So he’s really content at the moment.”

The Giants have suffered two blows on the injury front with young forward Zach Sproule expected to be out for two months with a strain while midfielder Jye Caldwell will miss around four weeks with the calf injury he sustained in last weekend’s NEAFL clash.

However, first year ruckman Kieran Briggs is set to play in the NEAFL side this weekend after being cleared of concussion.