Despite hamstring tightness casting doubt over Jake Stringer's availability for the start of the AFL season, GWS teammate Jesse Hogan is adamant the Giants will soon enjoy the enigmatic recruit's best football yet.
Stringer, who battled illness late in pre-season, was due to play in the first quarter of Saturday's VFL practice match but left the track as a precaution with hamstring tightness.
The Giants said on Sunday he will be evaluated in the coming days, but Stringer's lack of pre-season game time clearly casts some doubt over his availability for their opening round clash with Collingwood.
But new teammate Hogan was delighted with his early impressions of Stringer, who joined from Essendon last trade period.
"The publicity around Jake's all been pretty positive, but it's for a reason," he said.
"Since he got to the club, his attitude and mindset has been second-to-none.
"He's just put his head-down, bum-up, type set-up, and everything he's been asked to do, he's done.
"He's been super-impressive to me. And everyone knows at his best, how good he actually is. And I actually truly believe his best footy's actually in front of him.
"So yeah, we're through that pre-season area, and hopefully we get to see him sooner rather than later. But he's been super-impressive."
Stringer, 30, joins an attack led by reigning Coleman Medallist Hogan and featuring the likes of skipper Toby Greene, Brent Daniels and Aaron Cadman.
Hogan conceded it could take time for Stringer, who kicked 367 goals across 212 games for the Western Bulldogs and Bombers, to click with his new teammates.
"It's always hard. When you meet a player like Jake, who's so unique, it can take a while," he said.
"When you get players like Jake Stringer and Toby Greene they're kind of one of one, so it's hard to initially gel with them, because they're just so mercurial.
"So over the pre-season, we've played a bit of footy together and we've just started to kind of get a bit of chemistry, but it takes a bit of time.
"The best forward lines in the comp have spent four or five years together, so we have to kind of fast-track that. But from what I've seen of him, he's been fun to play with."
Collingwood ruck-forward Mason Cox (broken finger) will miss Sunday's clash at Engie Stadium but was hopeful of playing the following week.
