In a chilly Canberra, GWS Giants’ captain Toby Greene suffered an unfortunate injury during the first quarter of a match against Port Adelaide, leading to a painful moment for the team. The incident occurred when Greene attempted to take a mark in the centre square, as the Giants cleared the ball after Port Adelaide had advanced inside their 50. Port’s defender, Aliir Aliir, unintentionally struck Greene in the hip with his knee while trying to spoil the mark.
Commentators captured the gravity of the situation; Fox Footy’s Anthony Hudson noted Greene fell to the ground “like he’s been shot,” indicating he was in significant pain. Fellow commentator Leigh Montagna highlighted the discomfort Greene would likely face, especially given the cold weather, suggesting that he would need to keep warm to avoid further soreness.
As the first quarter neared its end, with only 40 seconds remaining, Greene received treatment from the physiotherapy team for the duration of the break, amid discomfort reported by Alastair Lynch. Although Greene returned for the second quarter, he was eventually substituted by Brent Daniels due to ongoing pain.
The match saw a fluctuating lead; Port Adelaide was ahead by two points at the first break, while GWS took a slight lead of three points by halftime. As the game progressed into the third quarter, Port regained the advantage, leading by seven points going into the final break. A standout performance came from 18-year-old Port Adelaide sub Christian Moraes, who marked inside 50 and increased their lead to seven points with a goal.
Ultimately, Port Adelaide secured the win with a final score of 9.12 (66) to GWS Giants’ 7.8 (50). standout performances included Zak Butters, who recorded 32 disposals, and Willie Rioli, who kicked two goals for the Power. For GWS, both Jake Riccardi and Jesse Hogan contributed with two goals each.
This result adds another chapter to the ongoing saga of competitive intensity in the season, while Greene’s injury raises concerns regarding his fitness for upcoming matches.