GWS face the predicament of losing key defender Jack Buckley to the Olympics next month as his partner Celeste Mucci is set to compete in the 100m hurdles in Paris.
The Giants are currently seventh on the AFL ladder and are aiming to secure a position in September. This is particularly crucial as six rival clubs are within reach of the competition's newest team, adding significance to Buckley's decision.
Mucci qualified for Australia's athletics team and will run alongside Liz Clay and Michelle Jenneke, with the heats scheduled for Wednesday, August 7 and the final on Saturday, August 10.
This coincides with the Giants' Round 22 clash against Brisbane.
Speaking onย Triple M, the lockdown defender was "scared" to ask coach Adam Kingsley for the opportunity to go to Paris and support his partner, knowing how hard she's trained for this chance.
โIt is very exciting that Celeste made it, and we are all very excited to watch,โ Buckley said.
โI was in his (Kingsley's) office a little while ago, and he does love his athletics, so I was actually too scared (laughing) to ask him.
โAnd he knew I was trying to ask him but was too scared to get it out.
โHe picked up the fixture and sort of looked at who we had. So he said, โNah mate you are not going'.
โI'm getting a lot of flak around it but unfortunately it is out of my hands. We will see.
โIt is very unlikely and I'm also scared to ask him again.โ
However, speaking onย RSN, Kingsley clarified Buckley's comments, saying that he's "too important" in the senior side but is still open to the idea.
"He didn't actually ask me (to go)," Kingsley joked.
"Because I am so excited for him and Celeste in particularly being a very, very big Olympics fan.
"So I'm hugely excited for him but maybe Jack is a little too important with our season still on the line.
"We'll consider that as the time gets closer."
However, on Friday, Kingsley was once again asked about the prospect of Buckley attending the Olympics and missing the Round 22 clash against Brisbane.
"What people have failed to do is ask Jack what he wants to do," Kingsley said.
"My understanding on what he's told me is he'd like to play for the club and not travel and trust me, I'm really looking forward to the Olympics and watching Celeste in the 100m hurdles but I think Jack will be suiting up against Brisbane in that week."
If Buckley was to head overseas, it would be another example of AFL clubs allowing players to miss games for family reasons.
Melbourne's Ed Langdon, Collingwood's Oleg Markov and Geelong's Oisin Mullin all missed games for family weddings this season.
However, Buckley's wish could be granted pending the return of All-Australian defender Sam Taylor, who is recovering from a ruptured testicle.
Taylor has missed since Round 14 and was initially replaced with Leek Aleer, who was omitted for the Richmond clash on Sunday.
Kingsley could use Aleer, Taylor and Harry Himmelberg in defensive posts if Buckley departed in the week of Round 22.
The Giants turn their focus to Saturday's task, taking on Gold Coast in what has been dubbed as the "expansion cup" given their infancy in the league.
