Hawthorn's finals hopes have taken a huge hit, with the GIANTS' 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.
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 the GIANTS ahead of 2026.
Meanwhile, in her 50th AFLW game, Hawthorn defender Jenna Richardson finished with 19 disposals, a contested mark and a behind.
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.
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 the GIANTS, 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.
Shortly after, Hawthorn's leading disposal-winner Eliza West was slow to her feet after applying pressure to a GIANTS 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.
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.
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 the GIANTS held on by the barest of margins.
Up next
The GIANTS 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.
GIANTS 1.5 2.8 4.11 7.13 (55)
HAWTHORN 2.1 3.5 6.8 7.12 (54)
GOALS
GIANTS: Parker 3, Goldsworthy, Huntington, Eva, M.Evans
Hawthorn: Stockwell 2, Stone, Ashmore, Martin, McDonagh, Dupuy
Crowd: 1875 at Henson Park
