2018 started with the GIANTS' first employee, Alan McConnell, taking the role of AFL Women's coach ahead of the competition's second season. His arrival was accompanied by the high-profile trade of Collingwood's Alicia Eva to the club, while Cora Staunton, considered one of Ireland's greatest sportswomen, also joined the GIANTS.

The 2018 AFLW season saw the GIANTS win three games and record another draw, but miss out on a place in the grand final after a final round loss to the Brisbane Lions. Eva capped off an impressive first season at the GIANTS winning the Gabrielle Trainor Medal and an All Australian selection as Courtney Gum was voted the AFL Player's Association's AFLW MVP. Gum and Erin McKinnon were also named in the All Australian 22.

Nick Shipley became the first GIANTS Academy player from Western Sydney to be drafted by the club with the Campbelltown product making his AFL debut in round six. 

Inaugural coach Kevin Sheedy's contribution to the game was recognised in late May with Sheedy being elevated to Legend status in the Australian Football Hall of Fame.

A horror run with injuries saw the GIANTS lose all four of their games in May and their season hung in the balance ahead of a trip to Adelaide to take on 2018 runners-up the Crows. The GIANTS beat the Crows in Adelaide for the first time ever, in what was a significant win for the club.

The GIANTS won eight of their next 11 games - including belting Carlton by 105 points despite having just 17 fit players on the field at one point - to finish seventh on the ladder.

For the second time in their history, the GIANTS faced cross-town rivals the Swans in a final. Co-captain Phil Davis kept Swans star Lance Franklin goalless as the GIANTS won the elimination final by 49 points, their largest-ever win over the Swans.

The GIANTS' season came to an end with a 10 point loss to eventual grand finalists Collingwood in a semi-final at the MCG. An outstanding season from Lachie Whitfield saw him win his first Kevin Sheedy Medal and be named along half-back in the All Australian team, a feat all the more significant as it was Whitfield's first season playing in defense.

Ryan Griffen announced his retirement, while a busy trade period would see inaugural GIANTS Dylan Shiel and Tom Scully depart, along with young duo Rory Lobb and Will Setterfield. Matthew Nicks would join the GIANTS as the club's senior assistant coach.

During September, the AFL Women's team added to the club's Irish connections, recruiting Yvonne Bonner as a rookie before bringing four new faces to the club through October's 2018 NAB AFL Women's Draft.

On the AFL front, former Docker Tommy Sheridan joined the club as a Delisted Free Agent, while Callum Brown became the GIANTS men's team's first recruit to come directly from Ireland.

Six players were welcomed during the 2018 NAB AFL Draft including Western Sydney's Kieren Briggs and Shane Mumford would come out of retirement as the club's first-ever pre-season supplemental selection.