The "heartbreaking" reality of GWS veteran Callan Ward's injury has begun sinking in that his time in the AFL is quickly coming to an end.
Ward is suspected to have torn his ACL in the first quarter of the Round 12 clash against Richmond, and with 2025 likely to have been his final year in the competition, that door has all but shut.
"It's obviously heartbreaking, not only Cal, but the whole footy club," long-time teammate Lachie Whitfield said on Monday.
"He's been an integral part of our culture... to see him go down like that is heartbreaking.
"Him and Phil (Davis) early, did a great job at taking 18 and 19-year-olds under their wing, and trying to teach them how to live.
"It's a pretty crappy way to finish it all for him.
"Playing 13 years with Cal... it's a sad moment. There's not much more to say, really."
But what came from the "heartbreaking" and devastating injury was a moment of selflessness and courage that has embodied the 35-year-old.
Inspirational.
Despite his injury, Cal Ward fires up his team before the final term.#AFLGiantsTigers pic.twitter.com/C4hJdIsbkW
— AFL (@AFL) May 31, 2025
Ward addressed his teammates at a pivotal juncture, not only in the game, but in the Giants' season.
GWS has been inconsistent over the past month despite such a bright start to 2025, and with a top-four chance still on the line, the former co-captain delivered.
"We were playing some pretty poor footy, so I suppose he can claim the turnaround," Whitfield said.
"He spoke to us, forthright, and with a lot of energy and care, and asked us to be reliable to one another, and put our heads over the ball. We owed a little bit to him, and we were able to turn it around."
Josh Kelly, who has also spent his entire decade alongside Ward, was inspired by the veteran's moving words.
๐ฌ "As much as he can, has come to terms with the situation."
Josh Kelly speaks on Callan Ward ๐ฒ https://t.co/CfGgFhMqpK pic.twitter.com/ueRHntZod5
— GWS GIANTS (@GWSGIANTS) June 2, 2025
"He was talking about our roles and what we needed to execute in that moment," Kelly said on Monday.
"Reliability and our ability to take away from the scoreboard in that moment, and go out and perform. Put your head over the ball. He didn't say this, but almost 'what would Wardy do?'"
It is understood that Ward's decision to play on in 2025 was in pursuit of the elusive premiership flag that has dodged him throughout his entire career.
Spending 2008-2011 at the Western Bulldogs, he played in two preliminary finals before the bold move to New South Wales.
At the Giants, he got agonisingly close to the decider in 2016 and 2017, while a semi-final exit in 2018 prevented an opportunity for glory.
In 2019, Ward missed the stoic run to the grand final against Richmond, tearing his ACL in Round 4, which plagued the next 18 months.
Heartbreaking losses in 2023 and 2024 further fueled his desire for success, but also led to more heartbreak.
And now, with a likely career-ending knee injury, Ward's part on the field is expected to come to a close, but his off-field contribution, as proven on Saturday, is just as significant.
"He's an optimistic person," Kelly said.
"Not exactly sure what the rest of the year looks like for him... but he was pretty sure he'd be there to help us out. For him, the club winning the premiership, and having that goal is the same whether he is out there or not.
"That's the type of person he is."
His former club went through this in 2016, when favourite son Robert Murphy tore his ACL early in the year, before Luke Beveridge led his side to a drought-breaking premiership.
Murphy held key roles throughout the year to ensure the Bulldogs remained on the path to success, and he ultimately received his deserved medallion.
