Star GWS defender Sam Taylor has been ruled out indefinitely after undergoing surgery on a ruptured testicle.
Taylor suffered the injury during last week’s 22-point win over Port Adelaide.
The two-time All-Australian defender wasn’t listed on the official GWS injury list on Tuesday, but the club revealed the news on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday.
A timeline will only be set on his return once he sees a specialist.
‘Sam Taylor will be sidelined after suffering a ruptured testicle during last week’s match and undergoing successful surgery yesterday,’ the post read.
‘Sam’s home and recovering with a timeline for his return to be set after consultation with specialists. Sending our love to Slammer.’
Taylor’s injury has come at a bad time for the Giants, whose season sits at the crossroads after posting just two wins from their past six games.
GWS (8-5) are fifth, but they are only one win ahead of the teams sitting from 9-12 on the ladder.
The Giants face the ladder-leading Sydney Swans on Saturday.
Taylor was widely tipped to get the job on Sydney spearhead Joel Amartey, who kicked nine goals against Adelaide last week.
Earlier this week, Sydney coach John Longmire described Taylor as the best defender in the competition.
‘Sam Taylor is probably the best defender going around in the competition at the moment. It’s going to be a big challenge for (Amartey),’ Longmire said.
The Giants star is far from the only footballer to be hit by the eye-watering injury in recent times.
NRL star Tom Dearden managed to play on and was even named man of the match after suffering the injury in the 24th minute of the Cowboys’ match against the Warriors in August 2022.
Then-Penrith hard man Spencer Leniu ruptured a testicle in May last year, and so did Geelong AFL star Ollie Henry, who was left in agony after a heavy collision with a Richmond player.