Callan Ward is among the greatest gamers in GWS historical past, having made the shift north from the Western Bulldogs method again in 2011.
However the 34-year-old appeared to endure a mind explosion as these two sides confronted off at a soggy ENGIE Stadium in Sydney on Saturday evening.
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Doggies followers have been gutted when the then-hugely gifted teenager Ward opted to affix the enlargement Giants forward of their debut season, following 60 video games over 4 years on the Kennel.
He gave them a small reward again on Saturday, nonetheless, earlier than the Canines went on to safe the upset win, 8.22 (70) to six.7 (43).
With simply over 13 minutes remaining within the first half of a dour affair, a Finn Callaghan hand move discovered Ward, who was matched up with Bulldogs famous person Marcus Bontempelli.
The previous GWS skipper rapidly rushed the ball onto his left boot and appeared as much as see if anybody was on the top of it because it soared inside 50m.
Somebody was, Bulldog Rhylee West, who led opponent Harry Himmelberg out of the goalsquare and took an ideal chest mark in a play that will make a forwards coach proud.
Not Giants coach Adam Kingsley, nonetheless, who was seen muttering below his breath as West went again and kicked the reward objective.
Himmelberg was utterly bemused, whereas Ward — who chalked up his three hundredth AFL sport in opposition to the Bombers final week — appeared for the closest gap he may dive into.
“That went the fallacious method from Callan Ward,” Jonathan Brown stated in commentary. “Did he overlook which method he was going?”
“He’s kicked it the best way of his outdated workforce,” Anthony Hudson added. “Confusion reigns.
“After 300 video games he’s forgotten which method he’s kicked it and as a coach, you’ll be able to’t actually account for that.”
“He thought he had the outdated jumper on,” Brown chipped in.
“As Rhylee West is lining up, Callan Ward is simply shaking his head,” Hudson continued.
“Typically you simply can’t imagine your good luck and it’s a Doggy roar.”
Jordan Lewis then referred to as a replay of the incident.
“Handball again and (Ward) simply turns round and kicks it within the fallacious path,” he stated.
“He genuinely thought they have been going that method.”
Hudson then made a reasonably crude comment.
“Effectively he did get concussed within the 2016 preliminary remaining in opposition to the Canines,” he stated, earlier than catching himself. “It’s no laughing matter concussion, I do know, however oh boy.”
It wasn’t the one mind explosion on the evening for the Giants.
Early within the first quarter, Callaghan entered the centre circle for a ball up as the 2 ruckmen have been engaged, with the umpires paying the very uncommon free kick.
“Everybody that’s ever performed soccer is aware of that’s a free kick,” Lewis said.
However Ward’s second was the main focus of many, together with the Giants’ social media account, famend as most likely the perfect within the enterprise amongst AFL golf equipment.
Their admin couldn’t resist a few digs at their former membership champion and present video games record-holder.
“Callan Ward nonetheless thinks he’s enjoying for the Bulldogs,” was their first submit on X.
They then adopted up with a greater line.
“We might be kicking to the correct of your display within the third quarter,” they wrote.
“Callan Ward has been knowledgeable.”
Followers took delight within the uncommon error from a champion of the sport.
“You possibly can take the boy out of the West however you’ll be able to’t take the West out of the boy,” was one touch upon X.
“Does the objective help depend on his stat sheet?” one other requested.
“Not good, inform him he’s sporting orange,” advised a 3rd.
It was a part of a poor day for the Giants, the previous flag favourites who’ve now misplaced three straight video games to slide to sixth on the ladder forward of subsequent week’s conflict with the Cats in Geelong.
