Adam Kingsley's first game in charge of the GWS Giants has seen his side decimated by injuries, with trio Harry Perryman (hamstring), Lachie Whitfield (head knock) and Josh Kelly (head knock) all unable to complete Sunday's clash with Adelaide.
A hamstring injury to Perryman in the opening 10 minutes of the first quarter forced the Giants into making their allowed substitution in the early stages of the match, with the switch further depleting Kingsley's engine room depth.
Perryman, who had recorded just the sole handball before being forced out of the remainder of the match, was set for a more senior role in midfield this season in the wake of the off-season departures of Tim Taranto, Jacob Hopper and Tanner Bruhn to Victorian clubs in the recent trade period.
A right hamstring injury could force Perryman out of action for the coming rounds, adding to a string of injury concerns at the Giants to start their 2023 campaign.
The Giants' midfield depths were further tested in the final term when Kelly was required to undergo a head injury assessment (HIA) following a collision with Crows duo Rory Sloane and Reilly O'Brien.
Kelly was left on the ground for some time before getting back on his feet and being helped to the sidelines.
His head knock came a quarter after Lachie Whitfield also clashed with Sloane, with the GWS defender failing his HIA to be ruled out of the remainder of the match.
Both Kelly and Whitfield are expected to spend the coming 12 days out of action under the AFL's concussion protocols after failing their HIAs, which will see them miss next week's matchup with West Coast.
Young utility Jacob Wehr underwent an HIA in the third term but was cleared to return to the field after 15 minutes.
Josh Kelly is now down, after being sandwiched between Sloane and O'Brien.
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GWS were forced into making a late change one hour out from their clash with the Crows, with defender Leek Aleer ruled out of the encounter and replaced by Jack Buckley.
Veteran defender Phil Davis suffered an ankle injury earlier this week at training and could miss much-needed minutes, while recruit Toby Bedford remains close to two months away from returning from a hamstring injury of his own.
Inaugural Giant Adam Kennedy was brought into Sunday's game in place of Perryman as the tactical sub, while small forward Brent Daniels returns to the club's AFL side alongside Buckley to snap extensive droughts due to injury.
GWS are scheduled to face West Coast, Carlton and Essendon in the coming rounds.
