AFL Round 5 GWS v St Kilda: All the analysis, injury news and fallout from the Giants’ 1-point win

St Kilda came from nowhere to almost pinch the game in the final term against the Giants on Saturday – but the thrilling one-point finish was overshadowed by a number of significant injuries.

Daniel Garb

4 min read

April 13, 2024 - 8:50PM

News Corp Australia Sports Newsroom

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The unbeaten GWS Giants have breathed a sigh of relief on the field and off after escaping seemingly serious injuries to Stephen Coniglio and Sam Taylor in their one-point win over St Kilda in Canberra.

Taylor went off the ground in the first term after a sickening head collision with Jack Steele that left him unresponsive and with blood spilling from his chin.

He required an oxygen mask while being treated with play halted for ten minutes until it was suitable for him to be taken from the ground.

The All-Australian defender, and Giants 2022 club champion, was immediately taken to hospital but, thankfully, he has recovered as well as possible considering the circumstances.

It’s unclear when he’ll be able to return, but he’ll certainly miss a mouth-watering match-up with Charlie Curnow and Carlton next week.

Sam Taylor was involved in a sickening clash in Canberra on Saturday. Picture: Morgan Hancock/Getty Images

“He’s fine, he’s in hospital at the moment being monitored but it would appear that everything’s okay there. That’ll be concussion protocols obviously,” GWS coach Adam Kingsley said post-match.

Coniglio’s knee injury in the final term under an excellent Mitch Owens tackle seemingly flattened the Giants which the Saints took advantage of superbly kicking six straight goals that almost led to a miraculous victory.

Initial fears were for the most serious of knee injuries to one of the Giants biggest names – but they have been allayed.

“‘Cogs’ is fine, no serious damage. We’ll wait for scans to make sure but our doctors and physios are comfortable that it’s not an ACL. It’s not minor but it’s not serious,” Kingsley said.

St Kilda has a big injury concern of its own with key forward Max King subbed out of the game with a knee issue and will undergo scans when the team returns to Melbourne.

“He just wrenched his knee a bit,” Saints coach Ross Lyon said.

“They’ll scan it, there’s no ligament damage so hopefully he comes up.”

Stephen Coniglio was also hurt in this tackle. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Coniglio was helped from the field but has avoided an ACL tear. Picture: Morgan Hancock/Getty Images

GWS survived an almighty St Kilda surge in the final term of a classic encounter in Canberra to become the first NSW team since Sydney in 2012 to start a season 5-0.

The Saints kicked the last six goals at Manuka Oval after trailing by a game-high 35 points at the start of the final term.

With a minute to go, they looked like conjuring up a match-winning opportunity only for substitute James Peatling, who came on for Taylor at quarter time, to produce a Taylor-like defensive effort with a heroic mark that saved the game for the Giants.

As Coniglio limped off in the hands of trainers in the final term, it seemingly stopped GWS’ momentum.

James Peatling takes the match-saving mark. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/AFL Photos/Getty Images

St Kilda took advantage superbly from that moment.

Anthony Caminiti kicked two of those final six goals and when he slammed one through from the goal square to bring the margin back to a point, the Saints may have secured a miraculous win, if not for Peatling’s intervention.

“It’s a mixed bag. Nothing to be happy about. We’re in a professional league wanting to win games,” Lyon said after the narrow loss.

“We thought we overplayed stuff at times but we worked our way through it and said look we’re gifting them some goals and not taking some at the other end so it’s closer than it is.

“Our group never gives up, they learn some frustrating but valuable lessons.”

“Our leaders really stood up. (Callum) Wilkie was very good (on Jesse Hogan), Jack Steele is in really good nick, (Jack) Sinclair and Seb Ross played their part.

“It’s indisputable statistically that they’ve (GWS) been the best team in the comp over the last year and five games.”

The margin at half-time was 19 points in favour of the Giants but that largely flattered the Saints.

Half-back dashers Lachie Whitfield and Lachie Ash were dynamic, while small forwards Brent Daniels and Harvey Thomas were dynamic in their work forward of centre.

The Saints were their own worst enemy early on with turnovers that the Giants exploited, but through the excellent midfield work of Brad Hill, Steele and the brilliant Rowan Marshall who dominated the ruck with 16 clearances, they were able to set things up for a final term challenge that fell short by the smallest of margins.

MITCH’S MARK AND MISHAP

Owens was lively in attack for the Saints with two goals and, in the second term, he took one of the marks of the season with a massive leap and grab in his own defensive 50. That moment wasn’t savoured, however, as he turned the ball over straight away to Jesse Hogan who snapped truly for his first goal of the day to extend the Giants first half lead.

Tom Green tackles Jack Steele. Picture: Morgan Hancock/Getty Images

CANBERRA KINGS

The showdown between local boys Steele and Tom Green was a large subplot coming into the game and, while Steele was the better performer overall, Green had his moment with a wonderful banana snap for a goal from the pocket in the first term in front of friends and family. The win was Green’s first in his home town of Canberra.

HUGO HELPED

The Saints injected debutant Hugo Garcia into the game late on for his AFL debut and the Calder Cannons product had a huge impact with 11 disposals to help the Saints turn the contest and go close to a win from seemingly nowhere.