Giants player taken to hospital amid fears of serious injury in AFLW practice match

Australia World

Greater Western Sydney player Bríd Stack has been rushed to hospital amid fears over a possible spine injury after a collision in an AFLW practice match against Adelaide.

Stack was hurt during the fourth quarter of the match at Adelaide’s Norwood Oval on Sunday.

The 34-year-old Irish import was placed on a stretcher and taken from the field in an ambulance, while the match was called off with just a few minutes remaining.

“Unfortunately, Irish recruit Bríd Stack has been taken to hospital following spinal precaution protocols after a collision in a tackle late in the fourth quarter,” the Giants said in a statement.

“She’s in the best possible care and we will provide a full update when we have further information.”

Stack is entering her first AFLW season after a successful career in Gaelic football.

She spent Christmas in hotel quarantine in Perth with her partner and child before joining her new teammates in Sydney.

GWS has twice moved to temporary bases this month — in Albury and Adelaide — because of Sydney’s coronavirus outbreak.

It will allow the players to enter Western Australia for the round-one fixture against Fremantle on January 31.

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Before the opening bounce in their practice match, Giants and Crows players observed a minute’s silence in honour of former GWS player Jacinda Barclay, who died in October.

Despite their inaccuracy in front of goal, Adelaide led by 20 points when the match was called off, kicking 2.21 (33) to 2.1 (13).

In Sunday’s other AFLW practice match, Collingwood beat North Melbourne 7.5 (47) to 5.5 (35) at Princes Park.

AAP