GWS Giants forward Jake Riccardi is set to be sidelined for two months after having surgery on his injured ankle.
Riccardi suffered the syndesmosis injury in the dying stages of the Giants’ 78-point home win over Brisbane last Sunday.
“I’d imagine it’s going to be a normal syndesmosis recovery, which is two months,” Giants coach Adam Kingsley said on Friday.
“It happened in the last 40 seconds of the game, which I think is the fourth time we’ve lost someone within the last five minutes of a game and the second time inside the last minute.
“That’s pretty disappointing for us. He’s an important part of our team.”
Riccardi’s misfortune was part of a costly afternoon for the Giants in terms of personnel, with defender Jack Buckley to miss at least four weeks after injuring his hamstring in the first quarter.
“I didn’t think it was that serious. He certainly didn’t present as that serious,” Kingsley said.
“That’s a bit disappointing for Jack. He’s been quite interrupted this season with bits and pieces, calves, hamstrings, concussions … but that doesn’t mean it has to continue to be that.
“He’ll recover strongly, and hopefully next time back in, he gets a bit of continuity, a good run at it and can help build into finals, hopefully.”
While Buckley is out, GWS will welcome back All-Australian defender Sam Taylor, who will make his first AFL appearance of the season on Sunday when the Giants meet Melbourne in Alice Springs.
Taylor suffered a hamstring injury while representing Western Australia in February’s State of Origin clash.
“We’ll be a better back line with him,” Kingsley said.
“ He’ll be a little bit underdone. I just figured when he was ready, we’ll play him, and he’s ready this week.
“I don’t think we need to be careful with him.”
The inconsistent Giants – who have tasted victory in five of their 11 matches this season – are hoping to secure back-to-back wins for the first time in their 2026 campaign this weekend.
“That was some of our best footy we’ve played this year,” Kingsley said in reflecting on his team’s win over the Lions, which included a 14-goal third-quarter Giants haul.
“Our challenge now is to get as close to that as we can as often as possible.
“Melbourne will present a slighty different challenge to Brisbane, particularly in Alice Springs, so we’ve prepared well, and we’re looking forward to that challenge.”
