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Delia returned after opening night, hammered (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

nailed

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'hammered' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both to do with contact as well as being past participle verbs.
Maybe you can see an association between them that I can't see?

'delia returned after opening night' is the wordplay.
'returned' shows that the letters should be reversed in order.
'after' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'opening' indicates taking the first letters.
The initial letter of 'night' is 'n'.
'delia' reversed gives 'ailed'.
'ailed' put after 'n' is 'NAILED'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for nailed that I've seen before include "Fixed; lead in (anag.)" , "Pinned down, literally with small metal spikes" , "Fixed with a spike" , "Properly fixed" , "Fastened with metal pins" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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