BRAVE GWS have overcome the early loss of co-captain Callan Ward to pull off a famous four-point victory over Geelong at GMHBA Stadium.
Ward left the match with a suspected anterior cruciate ligament injury just five minutes into Saturday afternoon’s clash, but the gallant Giants dug deep to inflict the Cats’ first defeat of the season – 11.13 (79) to 11.9 (75).
Geelong led by one point at three-quarter time and appeared to have staved off the gallant challenge when they edged to a seven-point advantage.
But Jeremy Finlayson kicked the last goal of the match after a courageous Harry Himmelberg mark.
The Cats kept coming but the Giants’ defence, led superbly by co-captain Phil Davis, held firm.
It was a breathtaking finale to a game that started on a flat note with the injury to Ward.
He was helped from the ground by two trainers and later appeared inconsolable on the bench after emerging from the players’ race on crutches.
“It’s not great … they’ll do the (ACL) test but it doesn’t look great,” Giants football chief Wayne Campbell told Fox Footy at quarter-time.
“We’ll obviously wait and see what happens after the game but, at this stage, it’s not a great early diagnosis.
“He’s gone to the rooms now and the doctors will look after him.”
The Cats took full advantage as the Giants organised themselves in Ward’s absence, Tom Hawkins’ first goal of the day giving them a 20-point lead at the first break.
But they couldn’t shake GWS, with Stephen Coniglio and Jacob Hopper working feverishly at the stoppages and Patrick Dangerfield and Joel Selwood not having their usual influence for the Cats.
The margin was 21 points at halftime after another late goal from Hawkins and reached a game-high 22 points soon after the restart.
But the Giants booted three goals in a row, including successive majors to Jeremy Cameron, to set up the thrilling climax.
© AAP 2019
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY 1.1 4.3 10.7 11.13 (79)
GEELONG 4.3 7.6 10.8 11.9 (75)
Goals: Greater Western Sydney: J Cameron 3 J Finlayson 3 D Lloyd 2 H Himmelberg 2 M Buntine. Geelong: T Hawkins 3 G Ablett 2 G Rohan 2 G Miers H Taylor P Dangerfield T Kelly.
Best: Greater Western Sydney: S Coniglio J Hopper J Kelly L Whitfield P Davis J Cameron. Geelong: M Duncan T Stewart G Ablett B Parfitt T Hawkins P Dangerfield.
Injuries: Greater Western Sydney: C Ward (Knee). Geelong: Nil.
Reports: Nil.
Umpires: Chris Donlon, Jacob Mollison, Justin Power.
Venue: GMHBA Stadium.
