GREATER Western Sydney gun Brett Deledio could miss the remainder of the home away season after suffering another calf injury on a day where up to four Giants could be sidelined.
Ruckman Dawson Simpson faces at least a couple of weeks on the sidelines with a left ankle issue, and when hamstring concerns for star forward Toby Greene and young defender Sam Taylor left the Giants with no-one on the bench for much of the second half, they played one and even two short on the field at times in the final term.
Deledio, 31, had ice strapped to his left calf against Carlton at Etihad Stadium after being hurt halfway through the second quarter.
A tendon issue in a calf forced him to miss much of this season and he has injured both calves in recent years.
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That came after a hamstring concern had already forced the former Tiger to be sidelined.
He has managed just 16 matches in Giants colours, including the clash with the Blues.
More calf trouble for Brett Deledio.#AFLBluesGiants pic.twitter.com/xmlO0zMGv1
— AFL (@AFL) August 5, 2018
"How long that'll be, you guys' guess is as good as mine. We'll scan that tomorrow and see where it's at," GWS coach Leon Cameron said after the 105-point win.
"It's disappointing for Brett because he's had such a tough last couple of years."
He admitted Deledio's past issues would force the club to take a conservative route.
"Yeah you do, absolutely. You need a little bit of luck in this game in terms of your injuries. Unfortunately we didn't have any today," Cameron said.
Deledio is contracted until the end of 2019.
Simpson seemed in immense pain when we went down in the middle of the ground midway through the third term and was helped off the ground.
The 29-year-old has proven an able big man for GWS coach Leon Cameron in his eight games this season.
"(His) ankle is clearly a concern. He's rolled it inwards and no doubt we'll find a little bit more tomorrow," Cameron said.
"He's been playing some fantastic footy and obviously that ruck combination of him and Rory Lobb's been working for us.
"You'd have to say that's going to be at least a couple of weeks, and fingers crossed it's not any worse than that."
More Coniglio class.#AFLBluesGiants pic.twitter.com/OyFusjL8GH
— AFL (@AFL) August 5, 2018
Taylor and Greene may face Adelaide next Saturday night.
Greene had been playing managed game time in his return for a foot injury and being forced to spend more time on field had GWS wary.
"Toby's a real interesting one. His hamstring was really tight. We know he's had an interrupted pre-season. We're managing his game time," Cameron said.
"We had to probably play him a little bit more than what we needed to and that probably just got us a little bit.
"We were a little bit worried about losing Greene for an extended period of time.
"He's actually a chance for next week because we managed him really, really well, and the medicos didn't want to send him back out there for fear of maybe doing some big, major damage."
First goal in the big time for Aiden Bonar! #AFLBluesGiants pic.twitter.com/FrYZS0rfBA
— AFL (@AFL) August 5, 2018
On the plus side, a few are set to return.
"We expect (Tim) Taranto to play (against the Crows). His knee was a bit sore, but we expect him to play," Cameron said.
"We expect (Sam) Reid to play.
"Aiden Corr was pushing his case. He had a really good Saturday (at training).
"We expect (Ryan) Griffen to play and it's more likely that (Dylan) Shiel will play. We were a little bit worried Friday but all reports today, over the weekend he had some good results with his ankle, but he'll be the one that will be touch-and-go."
Reid had a knee issue while Griffen is dealing with a hamstring injury.
GWS faces the Crows, Sydney and Melbourne in its run home. Now in third spot, continuing to win will ensure a top-four finish.