GWS Giants AFL win over Adelaide Crows marred by a shock strike from Shane McAdam at the Sydney Showground

A brave Giants side defeated the Crows on a scorching 36-degree day in Sydney, but the win was marred by a shock strike from Adelaide forward Shane McAdam against young star Jacob Wehr.

It gave first-time mentor Adam Kingsley the best possible start in life as head coach, with a four-goal win from captain Toby Greene helping the Giants overrun the Crows after giving them a five-goal lead to secure themselves a 15.16 (106) to 12.18 (90) triumph at Giants Stadium on Sunday.

Greene excelled in his first game as an independent skipper, but the Giants had inspirational efforts across the field, including Brent Daniels, who kicked the sealer in his first game in 590 days.

The diminutive forward ended the game with two goals after being sidelined by a series of hamstring problems while the Giants found little support from their bench in a day struggling with injuries.

Harry Perryman (hamstring), Lachie Whitfield and Josh Kelly (both concussion) were both forced off the field for early chills in said carnage – but it was the smash against Weir that everyone was talking about.

Jacob Wehr is escorted off the field by medical personnel after the Giants youngster suffered a sickening high-angle shot

Shane McAdam (pictured right, fighting for the ball with Giants defenseman Isaac Cumming) faces a long layover on the touchline because of his goal

Wehr needed a concussion evaluation after a sickening McAdam high hit that saw the Giants star appear to suffer horrifying whiplash during violent scenes.

‘He ironed it out! Weir went down,” Fox Footy commentator Anthony Hudson exclaimed as the hit took place on the broad coast.

Reporting from the border, Lions legend Alastair Lynch was shocked by the impact.

“That was a huge success. I’m 50 meters away and you could hear the punch,” he said.

Kangaroos big star David King agreed, saying he believes McAdam could face a major ban for the hit.

Kysaiah Pickett is also facing a major penalty after that disgusting shot at Bulldogs star Bailey Smith

“That’s a great success. Sit down, pull through, start,” he said on the show.

“He’s in a world of pain. Exactly what we are trying to eradicate from the game.”

After Kysaiah Pickett’s late goal against Bailey Smith, which was described as “one of the most dangerous things to be seen on a football field in a long time”, McAdam drew the ire of opponents, commentators and fans with the shocking swipe at Weir.

The fact that over 100 ex-players are filing a class action lawsuit against the AFL regarding the serious effects of a concussion in retirement only adds to the seriousness of the situation.

“That’s terrible of Shane McAdam. The tribunal will be huge this week when it comes to sending a message about what the AFL will tolerate in order to move forward. If the player comes back afterwards, that’s not primary, it’s the viciousness/intent of the goal,” wrote a prominent club member on Twitter.

Many have called for the return of a red card in games, especially given the way concussions are dealt with these days.

“Does McAdam’s bump show the need for a red-yellow card for the AFL? GWS loses such a player and there is no comeback against Adelaide,” one fan wrote.

“We had the discussion with the Stewart incident last year but it’s time for another discussion about red cards in football following this weekend’s Pickett and McAdam goals,” wrote another.

Given that the Giants lost two players to concussion and could very easily have lost Wer while McAdam stayed on the field, this makes a very valid argument for many.

On a more positive note for the Giants, utility Harry Himmelberg smacked a Mark-of-the-Year contender and launched into the stratosphere on the back of giant Crows ruckman Reilly O’Brien.

Despite a quiet start, Himmelberg put his name on the game late in the first quarter, launching over the 82-inch O’Brien and briefly perching on the Ruckman’s shoulders to pull off an incredible grab before crashing to the turf.

‘Massive jump by Harry Himmelberg!’ Sublime highs, stands to attention and pulls down a great mark,” exclaimed the ever-animated Anthony Hudson on the Fox Footy show.

“Think Mark of the Year was stitched first round,” one fan wrote on social media, while another said, “This Harry Himmelberg mark is as big… as any MOTY in recent memory.” Unreal’.

Harry Himmelberg sits on the shoulders of huge, 82-inch Crows ruckman Reilly O’Brien for an impressive touch in the Giants win

Himmelberg’s giant grip has already been touted as a Mark of the Year contender

Rising onballer Tom Green (37 departures) was also prominent throughout, and former skippers Stephen Coniglio (32) and Callan Ward (31) helped lead the Giants’ second-half revival in a superb midfield display.

The Crows’ prized recruit Izak Rankine sparked his new club early on but failed to get the Giants to count on the scoreboard with 2.5 departures from 18 – although Adelaide fans will no doubt drool over his potential.

Josh Rachele showed his class with three goals while Jordan Dawson, the Crows’ new skipper, had 23 shiny possessions.

Former Crows captain Rory Sloane finished the match on 18 touches and played out the match despite being involved in accidental headbutts that forced a couple Giants out of contention.

Brent Daniels (left) is hugged by team-mate Jack Buckley after kicking the match-winner in his first game in 590 games from injury troubles

Darcy Fogarty struck twice but failed to go the distance from just outside 50m as the Crows made one last attack before Daniels kicked the game’s final major in a fairytale finish.

The Giants were surprisingly bland early in Kingsley’s first game in charge, putting down just two tackles in the opening period, but the Crows couldn’t make them pay at 4.9 to 2.2 on the scoreboard.

The hosts finally took off as they scored the first four goals of the third term to reduce the lead to less than a goal and then gradually wore down the Crows, even with few reinforcements towards the end of the game.

The Giants travel to Perth for a 2-0 win against West Coast on Sunday, while the Crows will bounce back against Richmond on Saturday.