Star GWS Giants defender Sam Taylor has been rushed to hospital following a sickening incident at Manuka Oval.
The defender was attempting to stop St Kilda captain Jack Steele from marking the ball when he landed awkwardly and hit the ground extremely hard.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Sam Taylor stretchered off after sickening incident.
Stream analysis, local footy and the biggest moments free on 7plus
He was knocked out immediately and play was stopped as medical staff and a stretcher entered the field.
Blood could be seen coming from his mouth as doctors looked over him.
“Oh no, Sam Taylor is in a world of pain,” Fox Footy commentator Kelli Underwood said.
“Oh dear, you never like to see this on a footy field … And he’s not in a good way, Sam Taylor.”
The AFL social media account called it a “heavy collision” and wished Taylor “all the best” after he was stretchered off.
While journalist Andrew Wu said: “Sam Taylor is as brave a player as they come. Broadcasters not showing a replay for good reason. Genuinely frightening stuff.”
Matt Walsh, another sports journalist, said: “Footy is a frightening game at times. Hoping Sam Taylor recovers well, it looked genuinely terrible.
“ Contests like that are unavoidable in footy, and concussion is never not a risk, which makes eradicating the preventable head knocks and bumps so important.”
One AFL fan said on social media: “OMG that looked soo freaking bad. I hope Sam Taylor is okay. Praying and Wishing him all the best. Show some love and support for him, guys. He’s subbed now after the collision.”
Giants footy boss Jason McCartney confirmed at half-time that Taylor had been taken to Canberra Hospital. for “further assessment”
“He was conscious (and) he was speaking as he got in the ambulance,” McCartney said.
“It obviously didn’t look great but he’s a courageous kid.
“He’s in the very best hands and he will be fine.”
McCartney said it would be unlikely Taylor would fly home with the team later tonight.
“We’ll wait and see how it plays out.
“The beauty (of it is that) he’s conscious, he’ speaking, and he’s got great support around him now, so he’ll be fine.”