Greater Western Sydney forward Darcy Jones is facing a devastating setback after suffering a suspected ACL tear during the opening half of his side’s elimination final against Hawthorn.
The 21-year-old went down after attempting to bump Massimo D’Ambrosio off his kick, his leg buckling as he landed.
Trainers rushed to his aid as Jones hobbled from the field, his knee quickly iced on the boundary before he was escorted to the rooms in tears.
‘So much sadness on the bench’
The Giants confirmed it is a suspected ACL injury, which would likely sideline him for the majority of the 2026 season. It’s a cruel blow for the youngster, who already endured the same injury in 2023 during his first year at the club.
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“There's so much sadness on the bench here,” Fox Footy reporter Alastair Lynch observed as Jones left the ground. Melbourne great Garry Lyon added: “We’ll wait and see how it unfolds, but the reaction from the coach suggests that it’s not great. That’s a sad footy story.”
Jones had started the match brightly, slotting a classy running goal in the first quarter, before disaster struck. Coach Adam Kingsley looked crestfallen on the sideline as Josh Kelly was subbed on in his place.
The young forward remained visibly emotional as he was consoled by medical staff, his finals campaign, and perhaps much of 2026, now in serious doubt.