GWS midfielder Lachie Whitfield to miss 4-6 weeks after undergoing surgery on broken collarbone

Just as GWS narrows its focus on a possible top-two finish coach Leon Cameron is having to call for replacements after a serious injury to one of his best ball users.

The Giants have suffered a serious blow ahead of Saturday’s trip to fellow high-fliers Adelaide Crows with midfielder Lachie Whitfield facing up to six weeks on the sidelines with a broken collarbone but coach Leon Cameron is not about to panic.

The 24-year-old showed considerable guts into wanting to get back into the action at the weekend after a collision with the Suns’ David Swallow, before eventually being told to sit the rest of the game out.

The initial prognosis didn’t appear overly bleak but a scan has since revealed the damage.

“We thought he’d be OK after the game on early reports but we scanned him on Monday and he’s broken his collarbone, which is disappointing, and we put him into surgery last night (Monday),” Cameron said.

“He’ll probably miss that four to six-week mark, which is disappointing for us. He’s been playing some really good footy butit is what it is and he’ll recover really well and we’ll get him back out there. He’s come out of the surgery really well.”

Lachie Whitfield falls to the turf heavily against the Suns. Picture: AAP

However, the coach has confidence in his squad and fully expects others to put their hands up to fill the void.

Zac Williams is expected to return from a hamstring injury, while Daniel Lloyd, Jackson Hately, Zac Langdon are among those banging on the door.

“We’ve brought some players in before and we’ll continue to do that this weekend against the Crows,” he said.

The fact Whitfield wanted to resume after sustaining the injury didn’t surprise the coach.

“I think there’s been a lot of good commentary about him in terms of being an overall really good player,” Cameron said.

“He’s an All-Australian from last year, he can play multiple positions, but I think that commentary over the last 18 months has turned to he’s very tough for his build.

“He’s not built like a brick. He’s an elite runner, an elite playmaker but when it’s his turn to go he goes as hard as anyone in our footy team. And I think our players really notice that.

“So he wanted to get back out there but clearly the doctors made that call and made the right one.

“No side can replace like for like when one of your pure A-graders goes down. But in saying that, Zac Williams will come back into the team, probably take up his customary back flank role. Sam Taylor will be available as well.”

Zac Williams (right) is expected to return for the Giants. Picture: AAP

Toby Greene is also expected to back up despite soreness at the back of his knee.

“We had a huge clash with them (the Crows) last year and we need to match that again because it’s a huge game for both games where we sit on the ladder and we want to make sure that Saturday night we’re right in it and to be right in it and to be right in it we need to be competing for the full 120 minutes,” Cameron said.

“I think as I’ve said in the last couple of weeks, what you want to be known for is a team that can play well interstate, whether that be Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, or so forth and play well in big games interstate. It doesn’t get much bigger than Adelaide in Adelaide so we need to give ourselves every opportunity.”