GREATER Western Sydney chief executive Dave Matthews won't lose any sleep over Tom Scully's early playing return and is instead "delighted" for the resurgent former Giant.

Discussion is raging again about the deal GWS struck with Hawthorn last year to send Scully back to Victoria for the cheap-as-chips sum of a future fourth-round draft pick.

That means the player crowned as the No.1 selection in the 2009 NAB AFL Draft was swapped for, at best, a choice in the mid-50s in this year's edition – and maybe as late as the 70s.

The Hawks named Scully for his club debut on Sunday, a stunning turn of events given the potentially career-threatening ankle injury he suffered in round two last year.

The 27-year-old fractured the fibula in his right ankle and sustained a syndesmosis injury that lingered in what proved to be his last match for the Giants.

WATCH Scully in pain after ankle injury

A setback as Scully pushed to return for GWS's finals campaign ended his season, and the state of his damaged ankle was one of several reasons his value plummeted at the trade table.

His medical testing with Hawthorn revealed the extent of his injury, while "family circumstances" and GWS' salary cap woes also played a role.

INSIDE STORY Why Scully became a Hawk steal  

"He's a fantastic young man who made a very courageous decision to leave Melbourne and join the Giants (for the 2012 season) and he was a foundation player of our club," Matthews told AFL.com.au.

"I'm glad this week removes the uncertainty he had hanging over his head, in terms of his health and wellbeing. I'd love to see him go well.

"In the end, we dealt with a salary cap position last year in the Trade Period that was pretty unprecedented, when with COLA (cost of living allowance) and other allowances removed, it meant there was this bubble coming through.

"Some factors including Tom's injury at the time and some family circumstances and other things, it meant the trade reflected how both clubs saw him medically at the time.

"I don't look back with any sort of regret. You can only make the decisions on the information that's in front of you, but I'm really pleased to see him up and going."

Tom Scully played 121 games in seven years at the Giants. Picture: AFL Photos

Scully is still to prove he can retain his standing as the game's best two-way runner.

However, he is way ahead of schedule, given some prognostications had him not being ready until the second half of the season.

"It was an unknown for both clubs, or anyone in the industry, and we really couldn't find out until about January where he was going to be – we didn't know," Matthews said.

"You sort of have to make an assessment in October where you think he's going to be in January.

"But would I begrudge Tom Scully playing in round two at all? No, I'm thrilled for him."

Scully, considered one of the AFL's most professional players, has spent his football career in the headlines from the time he was the dux of the 2009 draft class.

He joined GWS on a mega deal he couldn't refuse – $6 million across six years – ahead of the expansion club's first season in 2012, coinciding with his father, Phil, becoming a Giants recruiter.

A debilitating knee problem plagued Scully's early days there and his form was heavily scrutinised, but he went on to twice be shortlisted for the All Australian team.

He signed a four-year contract extension in mid-2016 on about $500,000-a-season that was supposed to tie him to GWS until the end of 2021, before last year's events changed his career trajectory.

So should the Giants have tried harder for more Scully compensation?

"It doesn't really matter now. It's the deal you do at the time based on what's in front of you," Matthews said.

"It doesn't really worry me.

"I think our list is in a really good position and Tom's got a good opportunity in front of him. I think all parties win."