Fortunately for the Giants they were leading by 11 goals at three-quarter time meaning they could afford to put some of their stars on ice for the final term at Etihad Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
GWS were doing it easy against a Carlton side coming off their second win of the season, but a run of injuries in the third quarter put a dampener on their spirits.
Brett Deledio, Dawson Simpson, Toby Greene and Sam Taylor all picked up injuries on the way to a 105-point victory.
Veteran flanker Deledio came off before half-time and spent the rest of the match with ice on his left calf, an issue that has plagued him in the past.
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Ruckman Simpson landed awkwardly on his left ankle after a third quarter ruck contest, requiring help to come to the bench where he spent the rest of the match with ice on his leg.
After missing much of the season with foot trouble, star forward Greene took no further part in the match after the final change, coming off with what was believed to be a hamstring or glute complaint.
Finally, young key defender Sam Taylor injured his hamstring before the main break, leaving the Giants with no rotations.
They played with 16 men at times during the final term as various players came to the bench for rub-downs.
With Deledio, Simpson, Taylor, Greene and Ward on the bench, the Giants are playing with 17 on the field.#AFLBluesGiants
— AFL (@AFL) August 5, 2018
The Giants have no rotations but in last 5 mins Kelly, Ward and De Boer have come off for hamstring rubs, meaning they're happy to play a man down on the ground! Extraordinary stuff #AFLBluesGiants
— Nat Edwards (@Nat_Edwards) August 5, 2018
Not that it showed on the scoreboard.
GWS kicked seven goals to one in the last quarter to cement their spot in the top four.
It was the usual suspects in Josh Kelly (41 disposals), Stephen Coniglio (36 disposals, two goals) and Callan Ward (32 disposals) doing the damage in the midfield, while Jeremy Cameron helped himself to four goals in his first game back from suspension.
Leon Cameron's side will take on Adelaide in Canberra next Saturday night but they look set to make a few changes to their round 20 team as they count the toll from their injuries.
