GWS has defended their decision to play Jeremy Cameron against Fremantle on Saturday after the spearhead re-injured his right hamstring, which will cost him at least three more weeks on the sideline.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
Cameron missed the losses against Sydney and Richmond with hamstring tightness but was passed fit to resume on the weekend, only to suffer a grade-two tear in the same muscle.
Club medical staff are hopeful he'll return for the final-round blockbuster against Geelong at Simonds Stadium, but they could be tempted to rest him for another fortnight ahead of the first week of the finals.
The 24-year-old's hamstring was tested about 15 times throughout the Fremantle clash, and the tear wasn't detected until the spearhead pulled up sore after the game.
"There's no reason why he shouldn't have played the game, he was absolutely fine," GWS head of athletic performance David Joyce said.
"We'd done all the testing, he'd completed the training loads, he couldn't have been more prepared.
"He wasn't rushed back, it was just one of those unfortunate things. It probably means we need to be extra cautious with him now.
"He got a hit in his back in the second quarter and felt some symptoms down that leg. He actually presented worse post-match so we scanned him and unfortunately it's revealed he's got a hamstring strain.
"He tested really well throughout the second half. We went out repeatedly just to check on him and he was fine, we specifically tested him at three-quarter time and he was fine."
"You've got to play the ball that's in front of you but it will certainly come into our mind that we might be even more conservative."
A conservative approach would keep Cameron in cotton wool until the first week of the finals, during the second week of September.
In better news for the Giants, star recruit Brett Deledio is set to play his first AFL match for the club against Melbourne in Canberra after finally shaking the troublesome calf problems that have plagued the first of his three years at GWS.
Deledio only needs to get through training on Wednesday to put his hand up for senior selection having now successfully played two games for the reserves, racking up 25 touches in Saturday's loss to the Gold Coast.
"He's fit enough now to be a selection issue, we'll just have to see whether the coaches are comfortable with whacking him in there," Giants head of football Wayne Campbell said.
"He'd be a chance. He's now played two and he's going okay."
The Giants could welcome back a handful of stars for Saturday's crunch clash at Manuka Oval, with Shane Mumford (ankle), Steve Johnson (knee) and Will Setterfield (concussion) all facing tests this week.
Mumford and Johnson will be expected to prove their fitness at training on Wednesday, while Setterfield will be put through the usual concussion protocols.
Jacob Hopper is also in the frame to play his first AFL game since round seven, after overcoming an ankle injury and playing three strong quarters in the reserves on Saturday.
