HAWTHORN'S finals hopes have taken a huge hit, with Greater Western Sydney's second win of the season flipping the race for the top eight on its head.

Needing a victory to jump back ahead of Adelaide into eighth spot, the Hawks fell one point short as the Giants celebrated Tilly Lucas-Rodd's 100th game with a nail-biting win.

GIANTS V HAWKS Full match coverage and stats

Hawthorn forward Áine McDonagh had the chance to snatch victory in the dying seconds when she took a mark in the forward pocket. But she played on quickly and snapped wide as the Giants won 7.13 (55) to 7.12 (54).

The Giants narrowly won the clearance count 27-25, while the Hawks held the edge in inside 50s, 39-32. GWS made the most of its opportunities, scoring from 60.6 per cent of its inside 50s compared to Hawthorn's 60.2 per cent.

Both milestone players made their mark.

Lucas-Rodd pushed forward at times to take several shots at goal, finishing with a game-high 25 disposals and three behinds.

Lucas-Rodd became the first player to reach 100 AFLW games in the orange and charcoal, bringing up the milestone against their former club after spending four seasons with Hawthorn before joining GWS ahead of 2026.

Meanwhile, in her 50th AFLW game, Hawthorn defender Jenna Richardson finished with 19 disposals, a contested mark and a behind.

06:14

AFLW Highlights: GWS v Hawthorn

The Giants and Hawks clash in round 10 of the 2026 NAB AFLW Season

Published on Oct 18, 2026

Alyce Parker was lively throughout, slotting two first-half goals before adding another at a crucial stage of the fourth quarter.

For the Hawks, Poppy Stockwell led the way with 2.2, while Eliza West finished with a team-high 24 disposals despite an ankle injury forcing her from the field during the second quarter.

00:39

‘One of her best’: Stockwell bends beauty in damaging term

Poppy Stockwell rises up in the third term with a pair of fine finishes, including a cracking checkside from the angle

Published on Oct 18, 2026

The Giants dominated territory early, peppering the goals only to settle for a string of rushed behinds.

The Hawks responded sharply through Laura Stone, who burst out of a pack and snapped truly, before Kaitlyn Ashmore streamed into space to make it back-to-back goals.

A strong mark and set shot from the forward-stationed Parker pulled one back for GWS, giving the hosts a two-point lead at the first change.

Hawthorn struck back early in the second quarter, executing a slick coast-to-coast transition as Niamh Martin worked through trouble and brushed off a tackle from Jessica Doyle to slot the opening goal of the term.

02:44

AFLW last two mins: Hawk's late miss sees Giants hold on in thriller

The thrilling final moments between Greater Western Sydney and Hawthorn in round 10 of the 2026 NAB AFLW Season

Published on Oct 18, 2026

Shortly after, Hawthorn's leading disposal-winner Eliza West was slow to her feet after applying pressure to a GWS kick. She limped off flanked by trainers with a left ankle injury after her foot became caught, but returned after half-time.

Parker then nabbed her second goal with a clean snap over her shoulder from a pack. It marked the third time this season the star midfielder had kicked multiple goals, though Hawthorn still held a three-point lead at the main break.

00:42

Giant double: Parker puts on cape as perfect pair inspires side

Alyce Parker shows her class to slot two first-half majors to give GWS some reward for effort

Published on Oct 18, 2026

Firmly in the race for the League's leading goalkicker award, McDonagh hit the scoreboard first after half-time, before Zarlie Goldsworthy answered with her first goal of the year from a set shot.

Hawthorn defender Casey Sherriff went down behind the play and was left hunched over after an innocuous-looking tackle. She limped from the field with suspected rib damage, but later returned.

Stockwell scored her second of the quarter as the Hawks took a nine-point lead into the final change.

A free kick to Maisy Evans in a ruck contest saw the Giants regain the lead for the first time since the opening term, with the youngster converting for a memorable goal in just her second AFLW game.

00:41

Milestone moment flips script with Giant comeback

Maisy Evans soaks up the pressure and steps up to kick her first career goal, putting her side ahead in the final term

Published on Oct 18, 2026

Parker then struck for her third to give the Giants breathing room, but Hawthorn refused to go away, setting up a frantic finish.

McDonagh had one final opportunity to steal the game in the dying seconds, but her snap drifted wide as GWS held on by the barest of margins.

McDonagh snags outright League goalkicking lead with third-term magic
Áine McDonagh's third-quarter goal saw her take the outright lead in the League's goalkicking race, moving ahead of Geelong's Jacqueline Parry with her 22nd major of the season. After her initial attempt was thwarted, McDonagh followed up with a smother, gathered the loose ball and snapped truly on her non-preferred foot. The individual effort continued a strong season in front of goal for the Hawthorn forward.

00:33

Second time’s a charm: Aine gets it right in impressive effort

Aine McDonagh follows up on her first attempt with a superb smother, before firing truly on her non-preferred in a determined play

Published on Oct 18, 2026

Up next
Greater Western Sydney will head to Ikon Park to face Carlton at 5:05pm AEST on Sunday, following Hawthorn's clash against Essendon at 3:05pm AEST at the Kennedy Community Centre.

GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY      1.5    2.8    4.11    7.13 (55)
HAWTHORN      2.1    3.5    6.8    7.12 (54)
 
GOALS
Greater Western Sydney: Parker 3, Goldsworthy, Huntington, Eva, M.Evans
Hawthorn: Stockwell 2, Stone, Ashmore, Martin, McDonagh, Dupuy

BEST
Greater Western Sydney: Lucas-Rodd, Goldsworthy, Parker, Beeson, Evans, Mowbray
Hawthorn: Wales, Richardson, McLaughlin, West, Stone, McDonagh

INJURIES
Greater Western Sydney: Nil
Hawthorn: Nil

LATE CHANGES
Greater Western Sydney: Nil
Hawthorn: Nil

Crowd: 1875 at Henson Park