GWS have extended their injury-cursed AFL season at some cost, with Josh Kelly's knee injury creating a fresh selection headache for coach Leon Cameron.
Kelly limped off the SCG late in the first quarter of Saturday's elimination final and played no further part in the match, which the Giants won by 49 points.
GWS believe the star midfielder, among their most important players, has a torn meniscus.
It means Cameron, who has been forced to reshuffle his magnets this year amid countless setbacks to key personnel, will almost certainly be forced to make at least one change for next Saturday's semi-final.
Cameron was impressed by how his midfielders filled the void left by Kelly, whose value is perhaps best reflected by the fact North Melbourne offered him a nine-year deal in 2017 that was worth $10 million.
"Our guys have had to deal with it most of the year and to find a way," Cameron said.
"Once we saw he was struggling to run we thought we can't risk him and we'll see how we go with being one down.
"It was the right choice. The other 21 stood up."
Cameron hasn't given up hope of Kelly's scans delivering the club some overdue good news on the injury front.
"We'll find that out in the next day or two," he said.
"It could be minor. We're not ruling out next week. Touch wood.
"It'd be great to see him get up next week."
