Giants hit by injury woes
GREATER Western Sydney’s hopes of a maiden AFL premiership have taken a blow, with key forward Jeremy Cameron and ruckman Shane Mumford to play no further part this season.
Cameron suffered a hamstring injury in the qualifying final loss to Adelaide, while Mumford fractured his foot. The pair will be sorely missed in Saturday’s semifinal against West Coast at Spotless Stadium but also the preliminary final and grand final, should GWS progress that far.
Mumford is regularly referred to as the Giants’ barometer because of his attack on the ball. Cameron is arguably their most talented forward.
Dawson Simpson, signed in 2015 as an insurance policy, will almost certainly play his first final of a career that has spanned two clubs, 30 games and 10 seasons.
“Dawson came in and played a couple of games for us this year and played a really good role for us, so I’ve got full confidence in Dawson,” GWS co-captain Callan Ward said yesterday.
Simpson was named first ruck in the NEAFL team of the year, while standing at 210cm and 109kg he boasts a similar frame to Mumford.
There is no like-for-like replacement for Cameron but Steve Johnson, Devon Smith, Tim Taranto, Ryan Griffen and Will Setterfield headline the list of Giants in the mix for a recall.
“I’ve got full confidence in whoever comes in,” Ward said. “Even in the second half (against Adelaide), I thought we played some really good footy and Jez wasn’t there.”
Injuries have threatened to derail the Giants’ season throughout 2017.
Ward said there was no point dwelling on the Giants’ poor run, likewise this week’s omission of two of their most influential players.
“You can’t blame injuries. It’s part of the game. We’ve probably been a bit unlucky this year,” he said. “But other clubs have as well. We just have to deal with it.”
Ward praised the attitude of Cameron, who was an upbeat onlooker at yesterday’s training session.
“He’s been up and about, I think he knows the importance of him being positive around the group,” he said.
“The last thing the boys want to see is a guy walking around with his head between his legs.”