WAALITJ Marawar stunned Greater Western Sydney in a Sunday night thriller at Optus Stadium, coming from behind in the fourth quarter to win by 17 points and snap a six-game losing run. 

The Eagles produced the best pressure football of their season to win their third game, soaking up repeated challenges from the Giants and then rattling home with the last four goals of the game to win 13.10 (88) to 10.11 (71). 

EAGLES V GIANTS Full details and stats

In a clash between 13th and 16th that delivered well above expectations, both teams producing spirited bursts of high-intensity football in a desperate contest that went down to the wire. 

It was the Eagles who stood up in the critical moments, however, with spearhead Jake Waterman kicking back-to-back set shot goals to turn the game in his team's favour in a standout performance. 

Ruckman Bailey Williams was outstanding in his best game for the club, kicking a clutch late goal after a powerful mark, with pre-season draftee Milan Murdock putting the finishing touches on late with a goal on the siren.  

Young superstar Harley Reid was outstanding for the Eagles and drove the engine room all day with 33 disposals, 10 clearances, 12 inside 50s and two critical goals, producing one of the best games of his young career. 

It was the relentless pressure that the Eagles applied as a team, however, that was critical to their fourth win under coach Andrew McQualter, with chasedown tackles, smothers and powerful spoils typifying the performance.   

Their pressure on-field will now turn the heat up on the Giants, who are left in a perilous position at 4-6, with clashes to come against back-to-back premier Brisbane and a red-hot Narrm before their bye in round 13. 

00:56

New Eagle in dreamland as cult hero brings frenzy on buzzer

Milan Murdock wins the final battle against Lachie Whitfield and seals a huge win for Waalitj Marawar with a final-siren beauty

Published on May 17, 2026

The visitors will rueful wasteful kicking early when they had all the momentum, with midfielder Clayton Oliver (38 disposals and 12 clearances), wingman Harvey Thomas (25 and a goal), and defender Jayden Laverde fighting hard throughout. 

00:37

Electric Giants smalls fire up again to lead response

Brent Daniels just floats through a timely finish for his side before Harvey Thomas gets on the move with a slick snap

Published on May 17, 2026

Coach Adam Kingsley was wary in the build-up of the Eagles' stoppage game, but his midfielders hit the ground running and allowed the visitors to dominate play in the opening quarter. 

Led by Oliver, who had five clearances and 12 disposals for the term, the Giants controlled the groundball game and kicked early goals through Brent Daniels and Toby Bedford. But they were wasteful thereafter and kept the Eagles in the contest with a 2.6 quarter, leading by 10 points at quarter time.

00:39

Dynamic duo: Giants smalls 'buzzing' early in fast start

Brent Daniels and Toby Bedford show their skill and prowess to hit the scoreboard in the opening minutes

Published on May 17, 2026

While everything had looked hard for the Eagles in the first term, they bounced into the second with more energy and an intent to hunt, kicking an early goal through Reid after a brilliant chasedown tackle from ruck Williams on Finn Callaghan, who was well held throughout by Brady Hough.  

They were at their best when their pressure was high, with a series of determined efforts leading to goals for Jobe Shanahan, Waterman and a second for the impressive Jack Hutchinson. 

Reid was dominant in the midfield and had 14 disposals for the quarter, adding a second goal after a powerful fend off on Joe Fonti, with Ryan Angwin catching the Eagles' star high after a missed snap on goal, giving him a second chance to bury the set shot. 

00:59

'Don't argue with me': Harley-mania in full swing as volume rises

Harley Reid produces a trademark fend off and kicks his second goal after a free kick to give the Eagles the edge at half-time

Published on May 17, 2026

The creative Malakai Champion got one of his own when he scooped up possession and quickly snapped to open a 20-point lead, with Jake Stringer kicking a desperately needed goal on the eve of half time to cut the margin to 14. 

The Giants needed to respond in the third and did, ramping up its own pressure to spark a five-goals-to-one run, with Max Gruzewski kicking a pair from set shots and Thomas booting another on the run as the Giants threatened to burst away. 

00:48

'Comedy of errors' leads to Fonti's fine moment

Joe Fonti provides a bit of polish from the boundary to snap the first goal in his career after a chaotic passage

Published on May 17, 2026

A big contested mark inside 50 for Williams gave the Eagles a goal on the eve of three-quarter time, cutting the margin to just four points at the last change. 

Waterman finds his radar 
Waalitj Marawar spearhead Jake Waterman has been working hard to get his set shot kicking back on track, and an early miss might have unsettled him after kicking 18.26 leading into Sunday's clash. But the All-Australian regrouped and delivered down the stretch, kicking back-to-back goals from set shots to turn an eight-point deficit into a two-point lead and swing the game in his team's favour. The Eagles are a much more dangerous proposition when Waterman is kicking straight, and they'll hope Sunday was a turning point for the workhorse forward.   

00:55

Clutch Waterman delivers massive double in frantic minute

Jake Waterman brings the big dukes and kicks back-to-back goals within seconds to put Waalitj Marawar in front

Published on May 17, 2026

WAALITJ MARAWAR                1.2   7.4   9.6    13.10 (88)
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY   2.6   4.8   9.10  10.11 (71)

GOALS 
Waalitj Marawar: Waterman 3, Williams 2, Reid 2, Hutchinson 2, Murdock 2, Johnstone, Shanahan
Greater Western Sydney: Daniels 2, Gruzewski 2, Stringer 2, Bedford, Fonti, H.Oliver, Thomas

BEST
Waalitj Marawar: Reid, Williams, Waterman, Ginbey, Kelly, Hutchinson, Young 
Greater Western Sydney: Oliver, Thomas, Laverde, Ash, Daniels, Stringer 

INJURIES 
Waalitj Marawar: Nil
Greater Western Sydney: Nil 

Crowd: 36,781 at Optus Stadium