GWS star suffers horror hand injury during Giants’ loss to West Coast
WARNING: these images are not for the faint of heart. Poor Callan Ward can’t take a trick, suffering a shocking hand injury that left his finger bent in a completely unnatural fashion and leaving the Giants scrambling to find a surgeon.
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Greater Western Sydney looks set to be without former captain Callan Ward for an extended period after the midfielder suffered a serious finger injury in Sunday’s loss to West Coast.
Ward, who has endured a wretched run with injury including an ACL tear in 2019, suffered a compound fracture in one of his fingers in the third quarter against the Eagles.
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Coach Leon Cameron said the 30-year-old was due to visit a surgeon in Perth on Sunday night after the Giants mounted a late comeback but fell 12 points short at Optus Stadium.
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“It doesn’t look good. There’s some photos around of that finger looking a bit out of whack,” Cameron said.
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“He’s a tough player and I thought he was playing some good footy.
“He’s had a wretched run of luck the last year-and-a-half with all the injuries he’s had.
“But if they have to operate and he’s out for a little while, that’s an opportunity for someone else to come in.”
The Giants delivered effort on Sunday but fell short in their concentration and execution, Cameron said, conceding the first five goals and being unable to find a way to reel the Eagles in.
GOV’S HANGER HIGHLIGHTS EAGLES’ WIN
West Coast survived a late scare from Greater Western Sydney to make it six from six in their hometown run, returning to the top four with a 12-point win at Optus Stadium on Sunday.
After the Eagles built a 37-point lead early in the final quarter, the Giants kicked the last four goals of the game before losing 9.7 (61) to 7.7 (49) and missing a chance to return to the top eight.
West Coast’s stars stepped up to ensure the team won its eighth straight match, with defender Jeremy McGovern controlling their air to take 10 marks and build a wall in the Eagles’ backline.
Ruckman Nic Naitanui was instrumental in building an early lead before fading, while key forward Jack Darling booted three goals.
The win completed a 6-0 run at home after the Eagles returned from the Gold Coast hub in round six in 11th spot. They now return to Queensland as a well-oiled machine in the top four.
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GIANT RESPONSE NOT ENOUGH
Coach Leon Cameron would have demanded a response after last week’s horror loss to Sydney, and it came with 23 tackles in the opening quarter.
But while that was impressive, it was not enough to stop the powerful Eagles, who piled on the first five goals of the game.
The Giants had energy and run and tackled hard, but the traits that made them a feared team in 2019 were missing, moving the ball slowly and never threatening offensively.
Former captain Callan Ward said the players needed to get back to using their accurate kicking and attacking ball-use, but they over-possessed instead, racking up 39 more possessions in the first half for little benefit.
NIC NAT ON A MISSION
Nic Naitanui had eight possessions in the first quarter, six of them clearances and one of them a brilliant goal off a step. The ruckman makes every possession count.
Naitanui is on a mission this season, desperate for a premiership medal after missing the 2018 flag.
He controlled the stoppages all day but was particularly brilliant early, yanking the ball out of the ruck and pumping it forward or giving his midfielders first use with his tap work.
Naitanui is averaging his most hit-outs a game since 2016, despite shortened matches, and should be the leading contender now for the All-Australian ruck spot.
SCORING WOES CONTINUE
After kicking the equal lowest score in their history last week, the Giants took until early in the fourth quarter to pass that mark with their fourth goal.
Star goalkicker Jeremy Cameron and brilliant forward Toby Greene were both held scoreless as the Giants issues with midfield to forward connection continued, kicking seven goals from 41 inside 50s, winning that indicator 41-36.
It was debutant Jake Riccardi who emerged as their most dangerous forward, kicking two goals and presenting hard all day.
WEST COAST 4.3 5.4 8.7 9.7 (61)
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY 0.1 1.6 3.6 7.7 (49)
GOALS
West Coast: Darling 3, Ah Chee 2, Kennedy, Naitanui, Gaff, O’Neill
Greater Western Sydney: Riccardi 2, Daniels, Coniglio, Lloyd, Kelly, Himmelberg
BEST
West Coast: McGovern, Naitanui, Darling, Rotham, Gaff, Brander, Sheppard
Greater Western Sydney: Kelly, Riccardi, Perryman, Whitfield, Hopper
INJURIES:
West Coast: Allen (hip), Nelson (shoulder)
Greater Western Sydney: Ward (finger)
VENUE: Optus Stadium
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YIPS HAUNT LIONS AS SAINTS FALL SHORT IN THRILLER
—Chris Honnery
The Lions have kept their top four hopes alive with a nervous 6.14 (50) to 7.6 (48) win over St Kilda on Sunday afternoon at the Gabba.
It was by no means an easy feat but Brisbane’s crucial two-point victory have kept them in premiership contention, jumping up to second spot on the ladder after the win.
Their goalkicking yips were again a concern, with their 14 behinds allowing the Saints an opportunity to take the game.
It was the second straight week the Lions have won by a single digit margin, and third time this season, to make it their 10th win of the year.
It’s a timely win for the Lions who are now off for a week with a bye ahead of their clash with Collingwood next month.
Lincoln McCarthy is also set to face some scrutiny from the match review officer after a shot on Saints Ben Paton sparked concern.
GOALKICKING CONCERN
Brisbane’s shots at goal were again a worry on Sunday with several simple kicks going wayward towards the posts.
The premiership contenders missed a number of chances in front of goal and it allowed St Kilda to remain in the game – when the Lions could well have put the game away.
In the third term, the Lions dominated with 14 inside 50s but only managed to kick three goals and seven behinds.
In comparison, St Kilda kicked three goals with just eight inside 50s.
Eric Hipwood was guilty of a few costly misses and at one stage had seven marks and kicked four behinds.
STEELY PERFORMANCE
Saints midfielder Jack Steele continues to impress in 2020 and was among the best at the Gabba on Sunday afternoon.
He finished the match with 25 disposals and 17 contested possessions.
"Billings? Oh yes he has!"
— AFL (@AFL) August 23, 2020
Jack makes an impact and draws the Saints within 3. #AFLLionsSaints pic.twitter.com/iqTOZmkJVG
LIONS CROWD
You know the Lions are doing well in Queensland when the Gabba is roaring with supporters on a Sunday afternoon.
The stadium was allowed to hold 16,000 fans on Sunday and the 13,750 that were there made it feel like a full-capacity stadium.
It was great to see there are Queenslanders who support the sport and comes at a time when the state government is bidding to host the 2020 AFL Grand Final.
If the Lions are able to make it into the big dance, expect Brisbane footy fans to be hanging from the Gabba rafters to get a view of the action.
GOLDEN BULLET
Lions debutant Tom Fullarton did his first-grade chances no harm with a classy first game in the AFL.
The 21-year-old former Brisbane Bullets basketballer was a shining light in the midfield and finished the match with a goal and two behinds.
He even set up a crucial goal in the third quarter for Jarrod Berry.
Brisbane coach Chris Fagan is hoping to find a solid replacement for giant ruckman Oscar McInerney and Fullarton looks to be a handy option.
BRISBANE 2.5 3.6 6.13 6.14 (50)
ST KILDA 1.0 3.2 6.3 7.6 (48)
BEST
Brisbane: Andrews, Lester, Berry, Bailey, Zorko
St Kilda: Steele, Jones, Marshall, Ross, Hill, Kent
GOALS
Brisbane: Berry 2, Bailey, Fullarton, Cameron, McCarthy
St Kilda: Butler 2, Kent, Marshall, Membrey, Steele, Billings
VOTES
3. Steele
2. Andrews
1. Berry
Originally published as GWS star suffers horror hand injury during Giants’ loss to West Coast