Ward was in tears after a suspected ACL tear in the first quarter on Saturday at Engie Stadium, then addressed his teammates on crutches at three-quarter time.
The Giants duly kicked the only five goals of the final quarter and won 12.8 (80) to 10.17 (77) to stay in the top eight.
Ward signed on for another season this year, hoping to win an elusive premiership, and is living apart from his family, who have moved to Melbourne.
Early indications are that the 35-year-old has ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament of his right knee, which would effectively end his career.
"It feels like a bad one, an ACL. Initially I was probably in shock, but now I'm all right, there's a lot worse going on than me hurting my knee," Ward told Fox Footy at three-quarter time.
"It was a change of direction, like a typical ACL."
After the match, coach Adam Kingsley lauded Ward for addressing the team.
"I just thought Wardy's the heart and soul of our footy club - we weren't playing like Wardy, plain and simple, and I wanted us to," Kingsley said.
"None better to ask for it than Wardy, so he stepped in and spoke about what he wanted.
"It worked, Coach Ward.''
The veteran limped off in the first quarter and soon the Tigers started a deluge of goals that threatened to shut out the match.
But in the end the visitors were undone by inaccuracy in front of goal.
The Giants were behind from 10 minutes in the first term until 25 minutes into the last, when Callum Brown kicked his third goal.
Midfielders Tim Taranto, Jacob Hopper and Dion Prestia - playing his first game this season - were outstanding for Richmond, while half-back Lachie Ash kept GWS in the game.
A long goal to former Giant Taranto after the quarter-time siren capped his outstanding start, and the Tigers had burst to a 28-point lead.
Their 6.5 was the best first quarter under coach Adem Yze and Kingsley was furious.
The Tigers were mauling GWS in contested possessions and looked set to put them out of the game.
But Richmond kicked a wasteful 1.6 in the second term as the Giants came off the canvas with two goals.
The Tigers broke out to a game-high lead of 34 points in the third term, but again were wasteful in front of goal and failed to kill off GWS.
There were emotional scenes in the first term when Ward needed help from trainers to limp from the field.
The home fans warmly applauded one of their favourite players, and fellow veteran Giant Lachie Whitfield hugged Ward before he was helped to the rooms.
The veteran's right leg had pivoted as he tried to tackle Hugo Ralphsmith and he collapsed in agony.
Ward was one of the Giants' first co-captains when they joined the AFL in 2012 and he has played  327 games - 60 for the Western Bulldogs and 267 for GWS.
An ACL tear in his left knee ruined Ward's 2019 season, meaning he missed their only grand final so far, which they lost to the Tigers.
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