GWS Giants dealt massive injury blow with Sam Taylor suffering a broken toe
have suffered a massive blow with gun defender Sam Taylor facing over a month on the sidelines.
7NEWS reporter Xander McGuire revealed the All-Australian suffered a broken toe during last week's win over Brisbane.
Taylor was able to play out the match, but is now expected to miss the next up to five weeks.
'A huge blow for GWS with All-Australian full-back Sam Taylor out for 4-5 weeks with a broken toe,'
McGuire tweeted
.
'He sustained the injury against Brisbane but played through the pain. He'll spend the next 2-3 weeks in a moon boot.'
The blow comes just as the Giants recaptured their best form with the win over the Lions, which came after a shock loss to Port Adelaide in Canberra.
But now they will be without Taylor for matches against Gold Coast, West Coast, Geelong and Essendon over the next month.
Brent Daniels is also facing another stint on the sidelines after suffering an adductor tendon injury against the Lions.
The small forward, who has only managed six games, will undergo scans to determine his rehabilitation period.
Meanwhile, youngster Aaron Cadman knows his apprenticeship is over and feels he's ready to explode in the back half of the AFL season.
The 2022 No.1 draft pick lived up to his billing after his career-best haul of five goals and 13 marks helped steer the Giants to a comeback win over Brisbane.
His breakout performance - which included a speccy mark against Lions swingman Eric Hipwood - added to reigning Coleman medallist Jesse Hogan's haul of six goals and 12 marks.
The 21-year-old's slow burn to good form echoes the words of inaugural Giants coach Kevin Sheedy, who believes players only come of age at AFL level when they reach 50 games.
Set to chalk up the milestone against Gold Coast, Cadman agrees there is truth in Sheedy's declaration.
'I know that I can be, hopefully, one of the top players in the league,' Cadman said on Tuesday.
'This is my third year, so I've still got a lot of growing to do as a player, physically and mentally.
'I know they're saying your apprenticeship is over at 50 games once you're past 50, but I feel like I've still got a lot of room to grow.
'Obviously, big thanks to the coaching staff for giving me the opportunity in 50 games.
'Even picking me 50 times where I probably wouldn't have picked myself, and just having faith in me and knowing what I am capable of.'
Cadman has long been touted as the man to lead the GWS forward line for years to come, after the Giants traded up to secure the top selection in the 2022 draft.
The left-footer managed just six goals from a dozen appearances in his 2023 debut season, before hitting new heights last year with 30 goals across 23 games.
GWS's faith is clear, but Cadman admitted it took time for him to shake off the expectations that come with being a top draft selection.
'I feel like in my first two years, that was something that weighed on me a little bit,' Cadman said.
'Now I know what I am capable of, and just continuing to show that at the end of the day, it doesn't matter where I was picked. '
Cadman credits Hogan as the man who has helped make him ready for what looms at AFL level.
A 17-year-old Hogan has faced similar expectations after being drafted to Melbourne with pick No.2 in the 2012 mini-draft.
'Me and Jesse can relate to each other a little bit,' Cadman said.
'Even on and off the field, just sharing his mistakes and helping me learn from those things has been super helpful for me.
'It's a great relationship we have down there. It's almost like half the time, we don't even have to say anything.'
- With AAP
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Australian
16 minutes ago
- The Australian
A-League: Chris Long wants to score ‘loads of goals' for Brisbane Roar
New Brisbane Roar striker Chris Long is looking forward to scoring 'loads of goals' for a club desperate to rekindle its past glories. Englishman Long arrived in Queensland on Sunday night ready to lead the Roar's revamped new attack that also includes fellow fresh signings Michael Ruhs and Justin Vidic. 'This opportunity is massive for me – I can't wait for it to get started,' the 30-year-old marksman said. 'I'm in my prime now. It's the best I've ever felt with my body. The A-League's got me at the right time.' Long's move to Australia is a fresh start for him after what he described as a 'tough' few years at English lower league club Crewe Alexandra. 'I've learnt things and I've matured,' he said. 'I want to be part of success here.' The Roar hasn't tasted success since winning a third A-League title in four seasons in 2014. The club's past few years have been particularly depressing for fans, with Brisbane not having played finals football since 2021 and having been among the competition's also-rans. However, under new coach Michael Valkanis, the club is hopeful of a revival, showing signs of improvement in a 2-2 weekend trial draw with last season's Premier's Plate winners Auckland FC. 'I can't wait to work under him,' Long said of Valkanis. 'There are some really good young players at the club as well. Hopefully, they help me out and I can help them out.' Soon after arriving in Brisbane, Long drove past the club's home ground, Suncorp Stadium, and he liked what he saw. 'The stadium's incredible. I can't wait to score loads of goals there,' the former England youth international said. 'Win football matches – that's the plan.' Long said he had heard nothing but good things about the A-League from three of his countrymen – Zach Clough, Adam Le Fondre and David Ball – who had stints in the competition with Adelaide United, Sydney FC and Wellington Phoenix respectively. 'They had nothing but positive words to say about the league, and that it was the best thing you'll ever do, so I couldn't say no,' he said. Marco Monteverde Sports reporter Marco Monteverde is a Brisbane-based sports reporter for NCA Newswire. He worked in a similar role for The Courier-Mail from 2007 to 2020. During a journalism career of more than 25 years, he has also worked for The Queensland Times, The Sunshine Coast Daily, The Fraser Coast Chronicle and The North West Star. He has covered three FIFA World Cups and the 2000 Sydney Olympics, as well as a host of other major sporting events in Australia and around the world. @marcothejourno Marco Monteverde
The Australian
3 hours ago
- The Australian
Queensland jockeys Emily Lang and Angela Jones delight young fans with autographs at Eagle Farm
Emily Lang soaked up the 'weird' but wonderful experience of signing autographs at Eagle Farm last Saturday as the significance of winning the Queensland jockeys' apprentice premiership sinks in. Lang and Angela Jones, who last week won the Queensland metro jockeys' crown, spent about 20 minutes signing autographs for the next generation of wannabe hoops who are eager to follow in their footsteps. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! The talented pair's boss and Brisbane's top trainer Tony Gollan popped in to see the uplifting effect that Lang and Jones have had on youngsters aspiring to become just like them. 'It would've been a very busy day for Ang. She only had one break for the day and she was out signing autographs,' said Lang, who finished with 64 metro wins last season, just two behind Jones in a premiership race that went down to the wire last Wednesday at Doomben. 'There were a lot of little girls there and they were very excited. 'Tony came down and checked it out and I said 'would you like my autograph?' 'It was quite funny with all the little kids coming up. It was a weird experience, I haven't done anything like that before, but I think everyone enjoyed it. 'I think it's really cool how they put the race day on, especially Racing Queensland bringing a mechanical horse down for the kids. It might ignite a bit of a career path for them.' • 'She is so humble': Proud mum revels in daughter's premiership feat Gollan praised Racing Queensland and Brisbane Racing Club for organising the Teddy Bear's Picnic family day at Eagle Farm to kick off the new racing season. 'Until you see the kids there on Saturday, you probably don't appreciate just what it actually does mean,' Gollan said. 'Teddy Bear's Picnic is a fantastic day and it really engages the families in the area. 'It's cool to see both Ang and Emily signing stuff for the kids and taking in what the season was. Now it's head down and bum up for this season.' Lang said her goals for the new season were simply to make the most of her opportunities riding in the city. 'Because I'm quite close to outriding my (1.5kg) claim, for me it'll just be about trying to stay consistently riding in town and riding those horses well when I get the opportunities,' she said. 'Probably the hardest part of an apprenticeship is when you lose your claim and have to go to the next step. 'It'll just be trying to stay consistent and let trainers and connections know that I'm able to get the job done, even without a claim.' • English Premier League stars shooting for Golden Eagle bid Meanwhile, Gollan said former Godolphin galloper Pereille would head for a spell before resuming in the Queensland summer series. The Australian Bloodstock-owned gelding broke a 15-month drought when he emphatically won a Class 6 over 1200m, with Jones on board, last Saturday at Eagle Farm in his first race under the guidance of Gollan. 'It's how he should've won,' said Gollan, who last week claimed his 12th Brisbane trainers' premiership. 'The horse will get a lot of confidence and benefit from that because he hadn't won for some time (since May last year on the Sunshine Coast). 'He'll be well placed here in Queensland. That's just a good win for him to get the ball rolling for the group that bought into him. 'He'll have a short little break and then make his way back for the summer carnival.' Victory in a wildcard sprint race such as the $300,000 The Buffering (1400m) at Eagle Farm in late December would earn Pereille a golden ticket into the $2m Listed Magic Millions Cup three weeks later on the Gold Coast.
The Australian
3 hours ago
- The Australian
Wallabies vs British and Irish Lions: Third Test live stream, preview, how to watch
This Lions tour was said to be the first step of Rugby Australia turning a $36.8 million deficit into a profit. That may still be the case, with tens of thousands of touring fans pouring through the turnstiles for all three Tests. But where will a series whitewash leave the game as a whole in Australia? FOLLOW THE BUILD-UP AND THIRD TEST IN OUR BLOG BELOW Aussies love a winner, but the Wallabies haven't been doing much of that recently. The U8s running around suburban grounds in Sydney and Brisbane don't care about RA's bank balance. They want to see their heroes winning games and lifting trophies. That's the only way to ensure the next generation grows up throwing a Gilbert around rather than a Steeden or a Sherrin. JOSEPH-AUKUSO SUAALII'S BEST POSITION Suaalii has played well enough on attack – his break to set up Tom Wright's try in Melbourne last weekend was a perfect example. But he has repeatedly been caught out defensively. At times, so has his midfield partner Len Ikitau, who has been moved to inside centre rather than his preferred spot at outside to accommodate Suaalii. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii is brought to a halt during the second Test. Despite growing calls for Suaalii to be switched to the wing so the Wallabies can select a proven centre pairing of Hunter Paisami and Len Ikitau, head coach Joe Schmidt is sticking with his same midfield combo for game three but he can expect some criticism if it doesn't work out. THE BENCH Harry Potter's injury was a hiccup – and the Lions have much more depth that Australia – but Andy Farrell's supporters will argue that he also out-coached Joe Schmidt at the Melbourne Cricket Ground last weekend. Owen Farrell came on in the final quarter and provided an instant impact, off the ball as much as on it. Meanwhile, Ben Donaldson – who has several years more experience at Test level than Tom Lynagh - was left stranded on the bench as Australia desperately tried to hang on but couldn't, raising questions about Schmidt's tactics. Question marks were asked after Ben Donaldson watched on from the bench in Melbourne. Strangely, Schmidt picked a 6-2 forwards-backs split for Melbourne in the belief that it would rain, but when there wasn't a drop in the sky, it gave the Lions the advantage because they went with a traditional 5-3 split. But this week, with heavy showers forecast for Accor Stadium, the Lions have added an extra forward as a precaution for the weather while the Wallabies have returned to the 5-3 split they abandoned last week. THE WHISTLEBLOWERS Georgian referee Nika Amashukeli and his assistants will be under intense scrutiny this week after the controversial ending to the second Test when the match officials opted against penalising the Lions' backrower Jac Morgan for his clean-out on Carlo Tizzano. Schmidt launched a blistering attack over the ruling, saying it went against the game's pledge to player safety, which drew a sharp rebuke from World Rugby, which is trying to protect referees from the vile abuse they sometimes cop on social media. Nika Amashukeli shows Owen Farrell a yellow card. Regardless, with matches regularly stopped while Television Match Officials pore over replays of contentious incidents, the whistleblowers will be under more pressure than usual this weekend. TACKLE, TACKLE, TACKLE All the complaining in the world won't change the result from the first two matches but there is one area that might make a difference if they fix things up. When the Wallabies were the best team in the world, the cornerstone of their success was their outstanding defence. When they last won the World Cup, in 1999, they famously conceded just one try in six matches in the entire tournament. But in the two Tests against the Lions so far, they have given up eight tries, three in Brisbane then five in Melbourne, while also repeatedly falling off tackles. In Brisbane, the Wallabies missed 29 tackles in an eight point loss then missed 23 tackles in their three point loss in Melbourne. If they can plug those holes, they won't need to worry about blaming officials because they might just win.
