GWS Giants defender Sam Taylor knocked out cold in scary scenes

A GWS Giants star was knocked out cold following a terrifying collision in the opening quarter of their match on Saturday.

Scary scenes have unfolded in the opening quarter as the GWS Giants take on St Kilda from Manuka Oval in Canberra.

The Giants fell down a player as defender Sam Taylor was left out cold following a marking collision with Jack Steele.

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A kick from Tim Membrey hung in the air near the interchange gates as Taylor came from a long way back to spoil Steele’s attempted mark.

As the two men collided in the air, Taylor came off second best as his body flung around before his head slammed into the turf.

The star defender was out cold instantly as his teammates signalled for medical staff to come rushing to his side.

“Oh no, Sam Taylor is in a world of pain. You never like to see this on the footy field,” Kelli Underwood said on Fox Footy’s coverage.

“He’s not in a good way.”

You can watch the horror moment in the video player above

Sam Taylor knocked out cold

The match was brought to a standstill for around ten minutes as medical staff came to the aide of the defender.

Taylor was loaded onto the medi-cab before he was taken off the field. The Giants confirmed he had been subbed out of the contest.

The scary scenes had the footy world crossing their fingers for the health of Taylor.

The Age’s Andrew Wu wrote: “Sam Taylor is as brave a player as they come. Broadcasters not showing a replay for good reason. Genuinely frightening stuff.”

News Corps’ Tim Michell wrote: “Hope Sam Taylor is OK. That looked horrible.”

GWS’ head of football Jason McCartney provided an update on Taylor following the quarter time break.

“He’s been taken to Canberra hospital for further assessment but he was conscious and speaking as he got in the ambulance,” he said on Fox Footy.

“Obviously it didn’t look great, but he’s a courageous kid and he’s in the very best hands and he’ll be fine.”

Taylor was down and out for a long time. (Photo by Morgan Hancock/Getty Images)

The Giants proved too strong for the Saints throughout the opening quarter as they kicked the first three goals of the match.

The Saints struck back late in the term through Jack Higgins before Giants star Tom Green produced a moment of magic from just inside the boundary.

After getting on the end of a perfect hitout, Green strolled towards goal before snapping across his body and sending a ball straight through the middle.

The Giants, looking to keep their unbeaten start to the season alive, went into the first break holding a 19-point lead.

Originally published as GWS Giants defender Sam Taylor knocked out cold in scary scenes