Despite starting slowly and then trailing late, Greater Western Sydney has locked in its 12th win of the season and kept its top-four hopes well and truly alive with a 12.11 (83) to 12.9 (81) result against cross-town rival Sydney on Saturday
It wasn't an unexpected result given the clash pitted fifth against 15th on the ladder, but the visitors refused to give the Giants the easy afternoon many had predicted.
Led by brilliant performances from Jacob Hopper, Zac Williams, and Toby Greene in the midfield, and the unflappable Nick Haynes in defence, GWS was given a massive fright when the Swans hit the front in the final term.
However, they secured a vital four points with a 12.11 (83) to 12.9 (81) victory.
Isaac Heeney kicked four goals, three of them in the second half, to keep the Swans in it, while Jake Lloyd was prolific in the back half, and Oliver Florent and Zak Jones gave Sydney plenty of drive.
The young Swans enjoyed the perfect sunny conditions and piled three quick goals on the board before the Giants knew what hit them, with Tom Papley electric.
After his four-possession shocker against Geelong last week, the speedy forward kicked two goals from seven touches to spark his side.
GWS steadied and took control of the contest around the middle of the ground, but they wasted the footy going forward and a five-goal term gave Sydney a nine-point advantage at the first break.
The second quarter saw the Giants start to convert their momentum on the scoreboard and the first two goals through Greene and Hopper gave them their first lead of the day.
Some blistering speed from Bobby Hill gave him his first of the afternoon midway through the quarter and Hopper's second helped his side to a handy 13-point lead at half-time.
A converted free kick from Jeremy Finlayson put the home side 21 points up early in the third term and it looked like the favourites were about to pull away, but three in a row to Sydney, including a special effort from Heeney, turned the game in the Swans' favour.
They trailed by just five points when Nick Blakey slotted a goal after the three-quarter-time siren, and when Ryan Clarke nailed one on the run early in the last the underdogs had an unlikely lead.
Heeney had two chances to add to the margin, but he missed both of his set shots from 45m out dead in front, and the Giants pounced on those let-offs.
A poor turnover from Robbie Fox just backward of centre led to a Finlayson mark inside 50 and he put the Giants back in front, before a stunning snap from Hopper put the Giants 10 points up.
A fourth for Heeney made it a nail-biting finish and with less than a minute to go, Sam Reid almost pulled in a grab close to goal, but it wasn't paid and the home side managed to hold on.
MEDICAL ROOM
Giants: Finlayson dislocated a finger but played out the match.
Sydney: The Swans looked to have come through the game without any issues.
NEXT UP
The Giants head to Canberra to host Hawthorn on Friday night, while the Swans head to Adelaide to take on Port on Saturday afternoon.
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY 3.4 8.5 10.10 12.11 (83)
SYDNEY 5.0 6.4 10.5 12.9 (81)
GOALS
Greater Western Sydney: Hopper 3, Himmelberg 2, Finlayson 2, Keefe, Daniels, Hill, Greene, Whitfield
Sydney: Heeney 4, Ronke 2, Papley 2, Blakey, Menzel, Dawson, Clarke
BEST
Greater Western Sydney: Greene, Williams, Hopper,Whitfield
Sydney: Heeney, Lloyd, Florent, Papley
INJURIES
Greater Western Sydney: Dawson Simpson (managed) replaced in selected side by Aiden Bonar
Sydney: TBC
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Haussen, Stevic, O'Gorman
Official crowd: 16,116 at Giants Stadium
