Carlton has spoiled the formalities for GWS coach Leon Cameron’s final game in charge, defeating the Giants by 30 points on Sunday, but the Blues may have lost star midfielder Zac Williams for the season.
Earlier this week, Cameron announced he would be stepping down following the round nine clash, making way for assistant Mark McVeigh to take the reigns for the rest of the season.
Despite being without gun forward Harry McKay, the Blues stunned the Giants in the opening term, scoring the first four goals of the match.
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While Cameron’s final hurrah appeared to inspire a few mid-game surges for the Giants, multiple goals to a host of Blues ultimately secured Carlton the victory.
Ahead of his 193rd game at the helm of the Giants, Cameron delivered an emotional final address to his players.
“I don’t have any regrets, boys,” Cameron said.
“I’ve got relationships here, from coaches, staff and players that will last a long time.
“What you’ve done for me – I know it’s my last game, it’s hard not to make it about myself – is unbelievable. So today we play – play the game we love, play the game we’re supposed to play.”
But the perfect ending didn’t eventuate as Carlton controlled every key statistic to consolidate its top-four position.
The Blues’ victory was soured when Williams was helped from the ground late in the first quarter, after innocuously falling to the ground as he went to take off.
Given the visible pain the 27-year-old was in and the way in which he went down without anyone around him, it initially appeared he had suffered a serious achilles injury.
However, according to Herald Sun reporter Jon Ralph, Carlton said its doctors’ initial test on Williams did not determine a ruptured achillies, thus the injury is being pronounced as a lower-leg injury.
He will undergo scans on Monday to confirm.
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