GWS star Kieren Briggs was transported to hospital for a possible neck injury following a brutal hit in the early minutes of the club's clash against Collingwood.
Concern immediately emerged around the state of the ruckman as he was left flat on the floor following a marking contest inside his defensive 50.
Briggs was knocked forward by Collingwood's Darcy Cameron as he ran back into the marking contest, but his efforts to claim the ball ended in some friendly fire.
Giants teammate Sam Taylor collected Briggs in the contest and caused the 25-year-old to fall flat to the turf where he stayed until trainers took to the field.
Kieren Briggs lays injured on the floor. Â AFL Photos via Getty Images
"The two hands from Darcy Cameron motions him (Briggs) under the footy a little bit," AFL great Dermott Brereton said on Fox League.
"There's no malice in it whatsoever – but it moves him into a body contact he wasn't prepared for.
"There's a push in there… There's no nastiness in it – but it ends up in a nasty result."
All players stood in their respective team huddles while medics tended to Briggs.
He was then taken off the field on a stretcher for assessment.
Kieren Briggs leaves the field on a stretcher. AFL Photos via Getty Images
The Giants confirmed that Briggs was "upright and walking" but was taken to hospital for further assessment on his neck.
In a post on the club's social media, Briggs was seen watching the remainder of the Giants' clash on his hospital bed.
Briggs will likely be ineligible to compete in next week's clash against Melbourne, depending on if concussion symptoms are found.
His absence adds to the growing concerns of GWS' injury ward with the likes of Jake Riccardi, Jake Stringer and Jesse Hogan out of action.
"Structurally that'll have an impact," Nathan Buckley said of Briggs' injury.
"This is not the situation Adam Kingsley and his coaching staff would have drawn up through the week."
Briggs has only missed one of GWS' past 42 games since taking on the role as first-choice ruckman in 2023.