UPDATE
GWS footy boss Jason McCartney offered an update on Sam Taylor after the defender was taken from the field via stretcher.
Taylor went down midway through the first term in a heavy collision with Saints captain Jack Steele.
“He’s got to Canberra hospital for further assessment, but he was conscious and speaking as he got in the ambulance,” McCartney to
“He’ll get the best care there. Obviously it didn’t look great but he’s a courageous kid.
“He’s in the very best hands there. He’ll be fine…”
A nine-minute delay was the result of Taylor’s head clash.
EARLIER
GWS All-Australian Sam Taylor will take no further part in Saturday’s contest against St Kilda after being knocked out midway through the first term.
Competing in a marking contest with Saints captain Jack Steele, with both players coming from different directions, Taylor made the spoil but was collected on the way through.
The 24-year-old didn’t move for several minutes before being taken off via a stretcher.
“He’s not in a good way… he hasn’t moved,” Fox Footy’s Mark Howard stated in the minutes following the incident.
Andy Maher added on AFL Nation: “This is a bad one… everything about it was hard to watch. The players knew it straight away.”
Fox Footy chose not to replay the incident, such was the gravity of the situation.
Sam Taylor has been subbed out after a heavy collision. We’ll provide an update when we have more information.
— GWS GIANTS (@GWSGIANTS) April 13, 2024
Sam Taylor has been subbed out after a heavy collision.
— Fox Footy (@FOXFOOTY) April 13, 2024
Fingers crossed the Giants star is OK 🧡
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The Giants told media Taylor was conscious in the rooms after being taken off.
Both Adam Kingsley and Ross Lyon used the opportunity to host a huddle for their respective sides.
Taylor has never been concussed in his AFL career and has only played two full seasons of footy since debuting back in 2018.
The Giants leapt out to a hot start in the Canberra contest, booting the first two goals of the game.