GWS coach Leon Cameron has gone from cursing to cheering the AFL pre-finals bye week, with the Giants set to get a major infusion of talent for a second straight elimination final.
In 2018, GWS regained Brett Deledio, Matt de Boer and Toby Greene, all of who had missed the three previous games, and Zac Williams, who played his first match of the season in the knockout win over the Swans at the SCG.
A similar situation looms this week, with at least two, and possibly as many as four, stars coming back for Saturday’s home elimination clash with Western Bulldogs.
Jacob Hopper will return after missing three games with a hamstring injury and Greene is back after a one-match break due to to a calf issue.
Key back Nick Haynes (fractured cricoid, throat) and veteran Deledio (calf) are also in contention to return after missing one and two games respectively.
In the case of Haynes and Deledio the extra week has given them a chance to play that they probably wouidn’t have had before the bye was introduced.
“Three years ago I was probably cursing the week off,” Cameron said.
“The last couple of years years there’s no doubt it came at a good time for us, we’re not going to deny that.”
Hopper had no fears about being thrust into a high-intensity finals game following his enforced layoff.
“There is no doubt it’s a step up, but I’m confident in the training I’ve done,”‘ Hopper said.
‘”If anything I feel a bit more fresh going in now and don’t have the knocks and bruises that all the other boys are have coming into a finals series.”
Cameron said it was huge having hard-nosed Hopper back to take on a Bulldogs midfield he rated among the competitions’ best.
Josh Kelly and de Boer have both got another game and more training under their belt since each returned in the round 22 pummelling by the Bulldogs, after both missed several weeks.
“We’re confident they are going to stand up in the the heat of the battle on Saturday against a fantastic quality midfield.” Cameron said.
Stephen Coniglio, who last week, signed a seven-year contract extension will miss a seventh straight game with a knee injury, but could play again this season, if GWS go deeper into the finals.