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Joanna Guelas

Giants play it safe as Daniels makes up for lost time

Brent Daniels is looking forward to a run of matches in the GWS side to help them climb the ladder. (Dean Lewins/AAP PHOTOS)

Brent Daniels knows he'll have to play it safe in his AFL comeback from injury, but the GWS star will happily remind you he's not 42 years old.

Daniels is finally fit, out to re-establish himself as one of the competition's most lethal small forwards after a luckless run.

The Giants forward was kept to just six games last year, first ruled out with an abdominal strain, before his two-game comeback from round 13 was derailed by an adductor injury.

A calf strain ended his bid to play in the club's elimination final against Hawthorn, and the 27-year-old then underwent abdominal and groin surgery.

Brent Daniels.
Leaving the field with assistance was a common theme for Brent Daniels in 2025. (Rob Prezioso/AAP PHOTOS)

But his hopes to play in opening round were dashed when he strained his hamstring in a pre-season match against Collingwood, becoming the latest in a lengthy injury list for GWS coach Adam Kingsley.

His nearly 10-month layoff finally ended in round five, with Daniels kicking three goals in a 56-point win over Richmond to mark his return.

Later rested due to a five-day turnaround for the eventual derby loss to Sydney, Daniels returned to the line-up for the North Melbourne match and slotted a major in the seven-point victory.

With the 14th-placed Giants looking to amend a 3-4 start to the season, Daniels is itching to make up for lost time.

Brent Daniels.
Brent Daniels has kicked 76.70 in 296 AFL games for GWS. (Mark Evans/AAP PHOTOS)

"I'm only 27. I'm not 42. We haven't planned too many rests," Daniels said on Tuesday.

"We're just going to be smart throughout the year.

"It's a long season, and I want to be playing my best footy at the end of the year and being a valuable man.

"If there are chances where it is a five-day break, maybe I do have a rest. We haven't planned anything. I just do what I'm told."

Daniels isn't the only star Giant looking to build fitness, with Jesse Hogan (quad), Aaron Cadman (concussion) and Stephen Coniglio (concussion) returning against the Kangaroos.

All-Australian key defender Sam Taylor (hamstring) remains the only mainstay on the injury list and is, at minimum, three weeks away.

"'Kingers' has always been big on, let's start playing our best footy at the end of the year," Daniels said.

"We're putting it together now, and when we get a few troops back, it only helps."

For the first time, GWS will face Gold Coast after both expansion clubs made finals last season.

Damien Hardwick's Suns have lost momentum in recent weeks, losing three of their last five to drop to seventh.

"Since they've got 'Dimma', they've probably improved a lot," Daniels said.

"The 'Expansion Cup', I don't read too much into that, but they're a strong side."

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