Collingwood legend Tony Shaw has voiced his frustration over the management of Brisbane Lions defender Jack Payne’s serious knee injury, which occurred early in their 107-96 defeat to GWS. Payne sustained a ruptured patella tendon during a marking contest, necessitating the use of a stretcher to remove him from the field.
The situation took more than 10 minutes to resolve, as the stretcher was initially directed towards the Brisbane changerooms but was blocked from proceeding. Brisbane great Alastair Lynch, commenting live on the event, highlighted the confusion surrounding the stretcher’s access route, stating, “That’s the gate that accesses the Lions changerooms; you can’t get it down there. They’re just a bit confused down here.” He suggested a different exit be used for Payne’s transport.
As the situation unfolded, Shaw, also watching, expressed disbelief at the lack of coordination, stating, “The driver of the cart didn’t know where he was going. They should’ve had this better organised.” He critiqued the Gabba’s internal management, asserting that the episode reflected poorly on the venue and stating, “This hasn’t been done well, and whoever is behind the scenes needs to get this right.”
Despite the injury woes, the game continued, presenting further challenges for Brisbane, whose recent performance has been lacklustre. Their struggles in accuracy were apparent, having previously squandered chances against Adelaide and drawing with North Melbourne in the last five weeks. In contrast, GWS thrived, with Jesse Hogan and Aaron Cadman combining for 11 goals, while young Lion Logan Morris stood out as the only multiple goal scorer for Brisbane, finishing with five.
The loss adds to Brisbane’s disappointment as they fight to reverse a trend of poor form. GWS’s Lachie Whitfield had a standout game with 33 disposals, while Lachie Neale contributed 25 disposals and a goal for the Lions.