Battle of giants has an injury influence

SYDNEY’S two AFL clubs are both counting the cost after Saturday night’s bruising derby.

The Swans continued their ladder rise with a 13-point win over GWS at Spotless Stadium.

Sydney forward Sam Reid (groin) and Gary Rohan (glute) were restricted during the second half of the feisty match.

Reid and Rohan finished the game but will be closely assessed this week ahead of the SCG clash with St Kilda.

Swans coach John Longmire was more positive about Rohan’s diagnosis than Reid’s.

“He came back, kept playing and looked pretty good to me,” Longmire said of the flame-haired speedster.

Longmire admitted Reid “wasn’t 100 per cent”.

“He tightened up a bit in his groin. It was pretty early in the game. He got on the ground and played,” he said. “We’ll have to see how he goes.”

Longmire noted both sides would be nursing some sore bodies, such was the intensity of the finals-like clash.

GWS midfielder Matt de Boer will feel worse than any other player involved in the game, having been knocked out in the first quarter.

De Boer copped an errant elbow to the head from Nic Newman, who was attempting to break a tackle and had no malice in his actions.

There were early fears de Boer suffered serious damage and was bleeding from the ear after the head knock.

The 27-year-old required stitches to fix a gash but was in good spirits after the game.

“The first thing he said was he’s disappointed he cost us a rotation,” GWS coach Leon Cameron said.

“He’s a tough player.” De Boer and key forward Jeremy Cameron are the latest injury concerns for the Giants, who have dealt with a series of serious setbacks this year.

Jeremy Cameron was a late scratching from the derby because of a hamstring niggle.

Giants coach Leon Cameron conceded his namesake is no certainty to face Richmond in round 18.

“You don’t risk those sort of players,” Cameron said of the star forward.