Coach all but confirms the worst after Callan Ward’s heartbreaking injury

GWS coach Adam Kingsley has all but confirmed the heartbreaking news after star Callan Ward was left in tears.

GWS coach Adam Kingsley has all but confirmed the season is over for Giants veteran Callan Ward.

Ward’s AFL career could also potentially be over after he hobbled from the ground in emotional scenes on Saturday.

The 35-year-old fell to the turf in agony clutching at his right knee after being shoved aside by Richmond’s Hugo Ralphsmith.

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Ward remained down on the turf as the medical staff rushed to his side with the contest brought to a standstill.

The 327-game star appeared to know his fate as he clutched his knee before being helped back to his feet and slowly making his way to the bench.

“It doesn’t look good at all,” Mark Howard said on Fox Footy.

Watch the moment the AFL veteran goes down in the video player above

Ward in the hands of trainers. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Callan Ward in tears on the bench.

The cameras then panned back to Ward who was laying on a trainers table as teammate Lachie Whitfield came over to give him a hug.

Kingsley after the contest said the signs weren’t great for the former skipper of the club.

“He’s hurt his knee. Obviously he’ll get scans in due course but it doesn’t look great,” he said.

“Incredibly disappointing for our footy club. Such an important person, important player.”

Kingsley added: “I don’t know what it (will look like) for the rest of the season, but he’ll be around supporting us.”

“He’s a fantastic clubman, he sees the game really well and there’s no doubt he’ll add value in whatever he does, it just won’t be on the field unfortunately.

“He puts the team ahead of himself and he’s done that for 17 years.”

The heartbreaking scenes left the football community hoping for a miracle that it wasn’t the last time they’d see Ward out on the field.

Mark Stevens wrote on X: “Cal Ward a legend. Hoping for a miracle.”

CODE Sports’ Lachlan McKirdy wrote: “Devastating if that’s the end for Callan Ward. A cruel way to go for a legend of the game.”

Another added: “F***, heartbreaking to see Cal Ward like that.”

A third wrote: “That’s heartbreaking for Cal Ward. Deserved to end a stellar career on his own terms.”

A fourth posted: “F*** that is shattering for Cal Ward. Tough scenes to watch there.”

It was later confirmed the initial expectation from the club was that Ward had suffered an ACL tear.

If that is the outcome it would be the second ACL injury Ward has suffered. His first came to his other knee in 2019 which saw him miss out on the Giants’ run to the grand final.

Fans applaud the star as he heads to the rooms. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Ward was emotional as he came from the ground. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Despite facing a career-ending injury, Ward showed immense strength as he delivered a rousing speech to his teammates at three-quarter time.

With the Giants down by 28-points against a rousing Richmond outfit, Ward’s impassioned speech fired his teammates up.

The Giants came out firing in the fourth as they kicked five unanswered goals to pull off the miracle victory.

Star Tom Green spoke after the game and said the words from the former skipper put the fire in the belly.

“He just talked about being reliable. We’re at our best when we’re reliable with our roles,” Green said.

“We didn’t really do that for three quarters but the last I think we did. It’s hard not to when Wardy, somebody who lives and breathes the club, it’s hard not to get up for him in the last when things look like they’re not going to be great.”