A RANDOM drug test has ensured that Callan Ward's preliminary final night went from bad to worse.

Greater Western Sydney's fearless co-captain, an immensely popular clubman widely regarded by those inside the club as the heart and soul of the Giants, was left stranded in Melbourne as his teammates headed back to Sydney after their loss to Richmond.

Imagine the frustration when Ward missed his flight home after the loss, due to the game's twilight kick-off and the tight airport curfew in Sydney.

The 27-year-old, along with another former GWS club champion Toby Greene, was randomly selected to undergo drug testing after the club's 36-point defeat, and while Greene fulfilled his duties in timely fashion, a severely dehydrated Ward had to bide his time.

Ward, as he so often has done in his outstanding 192-game career, was outstanding for GWS as a second straight premiership tilt failed one week short of the Grand Final.

The Giants' games record holder had 25 possessions, seven clearances, seven inside 50s and six tackles in a losing cause against the Tigers at the MCG, and even his three goals couldn’t inspire his team enough for the visitors to cause an upset.

The Giants were on such a tight schedule that they were on the team bus bound for the airport 40 minutes after the match, and while Greene missed that ride, he made the plane thanks to some slick driving from GWS welfare manager Dylan Addison.

Ward didn't, so was a surprise attendee at a GWS function for staff and families at an inner city Melbourne hotel around 10pm Saturday night.

The one saving grace was that Ward's close-knit family and partner Ruby were on hand to help comfort the Giants hard nut after his fourth preliminary final disappointment.

He'll continue to rack up the miles this week, with Ward one of five Giants attending tonight’s Brownlow Medal in Melbourne.