CAN THE Giants win the flag without Callan Ward? 

It's a question that – fairly – would have gone through many football observers' minds on Saturday when the Greater Western Sydney co-captain suffered a suspected anterior cruciate ligament tear to his knee.  

That the unlucky setback happened in the opening five minutes of the game meant the Giants played a man down against the Cats for essentially the whole contest.

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But it also gave the Giants enough time to provide an emphatic answer to that big question. Yes, they absolutely can.  

Their gutsy four-point win over the Cats on their home turf backed up their victory over Richmond last week, and proved the Giants' credentials as a real contender – with or without Ward. 

After losing their inspirational skipper, the Giants' onball team matched it with the Cats', who have been the competition's yardstick early this season.

They won the clearance count, had more centre breaks, and ran over the Cats in the contested possession count. 

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Josh Kelly, in his second game back from injury, was excellent with 32 disposals, Stephen Coniglio continued his outstanding start to the season with 34 disposals, and young pair Jacob Hopper (31 disposals) and Tim Taranto (28) were also damaging. 

It is a midfield quartet that most clubs would crave and one that can spearhead the Giants deep into September, even with Ward expected to miss the rest of the season. 

Ward's absence, on top of the exits of Dylan Shiel (to Essendon) and Tom Scully (to Hawthorn) during last year's NAB AFL Trade Period, means the club does not have the same depth as it once boasted. They are three quality players who would have been in their first-choice midfield group 12 months ago.

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However, they could regain star forward Toby Greene next week from injury, which gives coach Leon Cameron options and flexibility. Do they throw Greene in the middle for longer patches? He's not unfamiliar with the role given his start as a ball-winner back in 2012.

Kelly played largely on a wing rotation against the Cats but do they tweak his positioning for more inside time?

Or do they look for a like-for-like inside midfield replacement for Ward? Aiden Bonar, a strong-bodied and athletic big midfielder, looms as a possible choice, while highly-rated midfielder Jackson Hately is another who may come into contention.

Jye Caldwell, the Giants' first pick at last year's draft, will fill the role in time but has been eased back in recent weeks after suffering groin soreness so won't be considered just yet. 

Moreover, GWS' performance against the Cats highlighted the weapons it still has at its disposal. Its scintillating third quarter – it kicked six goals to Geelong's three – showed its extreme scoring power.

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Jeremy Cameron is leading the Coleman Medal tally and has started the year in arguably career-best form (he booted another three against the Cats).

Harry Himmelberg and Jeremy Finlayson are excellent foils for him in attack, Phil Davis, Nick Haynes and Sam Taylor are sturdy in defence, and Lachie Whitfield (31 disposals and perhaps best afield) is one of the game's most damaging players: the Giants get the ball in the wingman's hands and let him go.

They also have a number of off-Broadway types who are picked to do their job and regularly execute: half-forward Daniel Lloyd, resurrected ruckman Shane Mumford, stopper Sam Reid and tagger Matt de Boer (he held in-form Cat Tim Kelly to nine touches on Saturday).

Ward cut a dejected figure at half-time of the clash against the Cats when, on crutches, he hopped across the GMHBA Stadium field, flanked by his manager Paul Connors and GWS chief executive Dave Matthews.

The Giants have had an unfortunate run with injury in recent years, and their hopes of an inaugural premiership were clearly not aided by Ward's likely long-term injury. But they did not go down with him.