GIANTS coach Leon Cameron took a chance when he picked Toby Greene for Saturday night's important clash with Richmond, but the star forward repaid the faith in his side's thrilling two-point win.
Greene at times looked like a player that hadn't taken the field since round five because of a foot injury, but he showed his quality with a clutch goal in a pulsating final term.
The Tigers went without a major in the third quarter but reduced the margin to seven points early in the last, before Harry Himmelberg found Greene in the right forward pocket close to the boundary line.
The 2016 club champion calmly nailed his set shot to steady the GIANTS, and while he didn't have a huge effect on the result, Cameron said Greene's impact will start to increase over the next month.
"We know he's a fantastic player, he's a superstar when he's fully wound up and fully fit," Cameron said.
"He adds an enormous amount to our footy club and our team.
"We monitored his game time really well and in big moments he knows what to do, even though he's been out for a long time.
"To kick that goal wasn't easy and there's no doubt we needed it at that time.
"Each week he'll get better and better and hopefully in the next three or four weeks we get to see what Toby Greene can really do."
While Greene returned against the Tigers after his extended
But Deledio finished the GIANTS' loss to Gold Coast in the NEAFL with 32 possessions and looks certain to return for next week's crucial game against Port Adelaide.
"We were rapt (with his performance) and we were close to bringing him in (against Richmond)," Cameron said.
"It's just hard playing two guys who have had 10 and 11 weeks out and we know Brett's checkered past with his calves.
"But his preparation has been phenomenal, he had a lot of the footy and covered the ground.
"We gave him some specific game time and it gives us a great option to bring him in next week.
"If he pulls up well there's no doubt he's going to be banging the door down."
