Greater Western Sydney has won through to the AFL semi-finals, but Brett Deledio is unlikely to be on the field with the veteran appearing to suffer a season and career-ending calf injury.
Deledio was distraught in the aftermath of the 58-point win over the Western Bulldogs, being carried from the field in tears.
The 275-game former Tiger has had a patchy season with persistent calf injuries restricting his ability to make an impact. He was surrounded by teammates and consoled as the Giants left the ground.
“It is such a close group and such a tight group and we love playing for each other,” Giant Jacob Hopper told Channel Seven after the match.
The Giants will play either Richmond or the Brisbane Lions next week after smashing the Bulldogs in the last 40 minutes of the match to win 16. 7 (113) to 8. 7 (55).
Giant Heath Shaw said on Channel Seven the club had needed to get a few injured players back and the bye had this year been welcomed.
“There is a little bit of backs up against the wall,” said Giant Heath Shaw on Channel Seven. “No one gave us a chance.”
Shaw said Deledio had a suspect calf coming into the match and had told coach Leon Cameron that no matter what happened he would finish off the game.
“I think he did his calf half way through the second quarter … he was amazing for us in the second half with a torn calf.”
Magpie De Goey has work to do to play again in 2019
Collingwood star Jordan De Goey will need everything to go right if he is to play again this season.
The Magpies confirmed on Saturday that De Goey suffered a right hamstring strain and defender Levi Greenwood ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during Friday night’s qualifying final win over Geelong.
While the win put Collingwood into a preliminary final, De Goey would not be ready for that match in a fortnight.
Given he returned on Friday night after four games out because of an injury to the same hamstring, De Goey is at extremely long odds to recover in time should Collingwood win through to the September 28 grand final.
“As we all know, talking beyond the prelim is a bit adventurous,” coach Nathan Buckley told Triple M.
“We just know he won’t be there for our next game and that obviously puts a bit of a hole in our plans.”
The news was also bad on Saturday for Greenwood, who most likely will need a knee reconstruction that will sideline him well into next season.
The 30-year-old revealed this week he had signed a one-year contract extension.
-AAP
The post AFL finals: Giants eliminate Bulldogs, Deledio looks done appeared first on The New Daily.
**Business and Marketing support on best price; Hit the link now----> http://bit.ly/2HsQmSi