GWS star Josh Kelly is convinced the loss of injured in-form tagger Matt de Boer won't force the Giants to alter the structure of their impressive new-look midfield.
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Kelly, who signed a two-year contract extension back in April, has been part of a Giants engine room which has overcome the losses of Dylan Shiel, Tom Scully and Will Setterfield and helped their club to a 9-4 record and third spot.
"Having Timmy Taranto, Jacob Hopper, Cogs (Stepehen Coniglio) and Matty de Boer all playing the best football of their careers...there's no doubt we're gelling together," Kelly said.
De Boer, who has emerged as arguably the best tagger in the AFL this season, will miss up to two months with a shoulder injury.
"He has been massive, it's a funny problem to have now," Kelly said.
"Because probably at the start of the year, he was just thrown into that tagging role and then, he did it so well (that he) just became a fixture in our side.
"So it will be interesting. Thats up to the coaches with what we do from here."
Kelly wasn't concerned losing their gun run-with player would throw the GWS midfield out of whack.
"Obviously having Matty in there is huge and has obviously helped us, but I think we just need to step up again," Kelly said.
"That void either gets filled by a potential tagger or somebody just coming in and playing a midfield role."
Kelly pointed out other Giants, including Sam Reid and Adam Kennedy, had been performing shutdown jobs.
Kelly has been in scintillating form of late, tallying over 30 possessions in each of the his last five games, four of which GWS won.
He is averaging a career-best 31 disposals a match and believes he is getting back to his 2017 All-Australian form.
"It's just been good to get some continuity in my football again," Kelly said.
"Obviously last year I was in and out of the team due to injury and then at the start of this year missed the first couple."
He's happy to see his friend and former teammate Shiel performing well with Essendon, who face the Giants at Marvel Stadium on Thursday.
He expects a far more competitive Bombers side than the one GWS thrashed by 72 points in an opening round game at Giants Stadium.
Australian Associated Press
