GWS midfielder Stephen Coniglio says he still holds out hope of returning for next Saturday’s AFL grand final with Richmond.

Coniglio has been sidelined since suffering a knee injury in Round 17, with coach Leon Cameron saying it would be a “risk” to call up the vice-captain after such a long lay-off.

While he didn’t want to estimate his chances of returning, Coniglio said he would do everything to prove his fitness for the MCG clash.

“I can’t put a number on it because I don’t actually know myself,” he said after the Giants preliminary final win over Collingwood.

“We’ll just have to wait and see. Now we’re in I’ll just have to do what I can to try and play.”

Toby Greene will return from suspension, while Lachie Whitfield (appendicitis) will also try and prove his fitness.

It will be a tougher ask for veteran Brett Deledio (calf) to be involved while co-captain Callan Ward (knee) will watch on from the sidelines.

Defender Nick Haynes said there had been “mixed emotions” in the rooms post-match, given the players on the sidelines who could miss out.

“It was filled with joy and it was mixed emotions as well, obviously with Callan Ward and Stephen Coniglio and Brett Deledio there as well,” Haynes said.

“To see the joy on their faces, but know the pain they’re going through as well, was a bit hard to watch.

“But they’re going to be riding us home next week, we’re going to do it for them as well.”

Former Tiger Deledio moved to GWS at the end of 2016, then watched his former Richmond teammates experience premiership success in 2017.

After suffering another calf injury in the elimination final, he looks unlikely to feature in the season decider – bar a minor miracle.

“For him, there’s been some unlucky stories in footy,” Coniglio said.

“The thing is, he’s happy forever. I was chatting to him before and he goes ‘Mate, it is what it is, I’ve just had an unlucky run but (I’ve got) two beautiful girls and a wife.’

“So there’s bigger things in life than footy sometimes, that’s for sure.”

Coniglio said he expected Deledio to do everything he could to push for a return to the big stage.

“Oh he’ll try and play, he’ll try and play,” he said.