Greater Western Sydney now boast the mantle of AFL premiership favourites but their depth is set to be tested against Richmond on Saturday.
GWS were forced to dig deep in their last-gasp win over Collingwood, with Stephen Coniglio, Aidan Corr and Sam Reid all injured in the match at Spotless Stadium.
The three-point victory, sealed thanks to Steve Johnson’s crumbed goal in the final minute, combined with Adelaide’s shock loss to Melbourne means bookmakers have now listed GWS as outright flag favourites.
Giants coach Leon Cameron has been forced to reshuffle his magnets this year because of long-term setbacks for Ryan Griffen, Brett Deledio, Nick Haynes, Matt Buntine, Adam Kennedy, Jacob Hopper and Tendai Mzungu.
It’s likely Cameron will be forced to make three changes to the side that defeated Collingwood, with the club set to learn the full extent of Coniglio’s ankle injury on Monday.
Coniglio, one of GWS’s most important midfielders, missed the opening six rounds of the season because of an ankle injury.
“It is the same ankle. Whether it’s the same injury or not, we’ll wait and see on Monday,” Cameron said.
“Fingers crossed, it’s not as bad.
“But we’ll send out 22 fit men ready to go for next week’s game against the Tigers.”
Corr and Reid were both knocked out in the Giants’ win over Collingwood. Corr lay motionless for more than a minute after his head hit the turf at an awful angle.
Hawthorn are among the other AFL clubs sweating on injury updates to key personnel. Cyril Rioli and Ben Stratton both suffered knee injuries in the side’s comfortable win over Brisbane.