GIANTS co-captain Phil Davis refuses to believe Brett Deledio has played his last AFL game, claiming the veteran’s incredible resilience could even drive him to play on beyond 2019.

Deledio was one of four GWS players that finished the club’s match against Carlton injured on the bench

In just his third game back after a 10-week stint on the sidelines due to hamstring and calf complications, the 31-year-old on Sunday limped off Etihad Stadium with a calf injury.

The Giants are yet to put a timeframe on Deledio’s latest calf setback, but fitness guru David Joyce admitted the club will be “pretty conservative” given the former Richmond star’s chronic calf problems.

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Deledio, who was traded from Richmond to the Giants after the 2016 AFL season, has managed just 16 games in his two seasons at the Giants.

But Davis told Fox Sports News’ AFL Tonight that Deledio wasn’t finished as a footballer, despite his array of setbacks since lancing in western Sydney.

“From my point of view looking in, it looks like he’s got all that energy and effort that he wants to be part of a successful team and I think he’s confident that we, as a Giants club, can be that. I’m sure he’ll do whatever it takes to be part of that,” Davis told AFL Tonight.

“I’m very confident he’ll be here next year and, if not, for a few years after that, because he’s a terrific person of great character.

“He’s worked so hard on trying to fix these issues and I’m sure he’s very, very close to breaking the back of them and he’ll be out the other side and be able to play the continual great football we’ve seen Brett play.”

Deledio comes out of contract at the end of the 2019 AFL season.

Davis said that Deledio had “become a really big part of the team” in just a short space of time at the Giants and was hopeful he’d even be back for this year’s finals series.

“Personally it’s been a privilege to watch his determination and his ability to just try and maximise everything he can with his body. Unfortunately it’s let him down a few times,” Davis said.

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“But one thing I’ve seen over and over again with Brett is a great resolve and a great determination and someone that’s got a huge amount of resilience.”

“This is only a small setback I hope, but it’s been very frustrating not to have any continuity. But we’ve seen the footy is capable of doing when he’s fit and firing, so hopefully this will only be a short-term situation and he’ll be back to help us with our assault on the finals.”