Injuries sour GWS shellacking of woeful Blues
GREATER Western Sydney’s AFL premiership campaign received a big boost and took a sizeable hit at the same time with their brutal 105-point pounding of Carlton yesterday.
The Giants played the majority of the second half at Etihad Stadium with a severely restricted bench after Brett Deledio (calf), Toby Greene (hamstring), Dawson Simpson (ankle) and Sam Taylor (hamstring) were injured.
The Blues were faced with a 16-man opposition for parts of the final term but were still handed a 23.13 (151) to 7.4 (46) beating.
“Firstly, I thought we played really well,” GWS coach Leon Cameron said. “But no doubt, having that sort of injury list on your bench, for some of the players coming off looking for a spell, it would have been a little bit tough for them.”
The Giants face a resurgent Adelaide in Canberra off a sixday break as they look to consolidate a spot in the top four.
Deledio won’t take part in that match, with scans to determine how long his latest calf injury will sideline him.
Co-captain Callan Ward felt little joy after GWS achieved their second-biggest AFL winning margin.
“I’m a bit deflated, actually,” Ward said.
“When you come in after a 100-point win and you see those four boys in tracksuits – it’s never a good sign.”
Greene and Taylor came off as a precaution after experiencing hamstring tightness and might be OK for Saturday night’s home game.