The Giants have hung on in a thriller to end an eight-match losing streak by the narrowest of margins with an upset win over top eight contender Hawthorn who failed to regain the finals’ spot they held entering round 10.
The hosts breaking the drought 55-54 at Sydney’s Henson Park to celebrate a major milestone for key midfielder Tilly Lucas-Rodd in the most fitting way.
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Reversing a nine-point deficit at three-quarter time and game-high 10-points, a final term surge by the Giants put them in front by 55-46 thanks to three goals two sparked by a snap from veteran Alicia Eva snapping from acute angle to get the Giants within three in the seventh minute of the fourth quarter.
That was followed by a first career goal for 20-year-old Maisy Evans and the Giants were back in front for the first time since the 6 minute 52 second mark of the first quarter. Then super star Alyce Parker slotted her third and the Giants looked home.
But the Hawks had one last say when key forward Jacqueline Dupuy reduced the margin to two and the competition’s leading goalkicker Aine McDonagh missed with just 23 seconds left on the clock, which would be costly for the Hawks, in more ways than one.
Moments before the siren Georgia Garnett took a clutch mark on the angle in front of goal, with Hawthorn applying the ultimate pressure to hang on by a point. The loss leaving Hawthorn in ninth on percentage with two rounds to go and left to rue a match they should have won against the 15th placed Giants.
Lucas-Rodd was among the best on ground in their 100th match with 25 disposals and four clearances, her effort matched only by Hawthorn’s inside midfielder Eliza West (24 disposals and six clearances) and Greater Western Sydney’s captain Bec Beeson with 22 disposals.
West left the field hobbling early in the second quarter due to a suspected left ankle sprain, when leading the disposals for Hawthorn with 10, and five tackles, but returned to apply the pressure that kept Hawthorn in front at three-quarter time.
LUCAS-RODD MARKS MILESTONE IN SPECIAL ROUND
Sunday afternoon at Henson Park marked a very special occasion for one of the Giants’ best, Tilly Lucas-Rodd, who became the eighth player in 2026 to celebrate 100 career matches, across 11 seasons and four clubs, including the Hawks.
The match carrying extra special significance for the non-binary athlete taking place during the AFLW’s Pride Round recognizing and celebrating the LGBTQIA+ community. Lucas-Rodd leading the Giants through a Pride flag banner fully embracing the occasion’s significance.
The midfielder had an opportunity to begin their 100th match is the best way possible with a snap from the outside of the boot, in front, for the first goal less than two minutes into the match but missed what would have been their first goal of the season. Lucas-Rodd had another two opportunities inside 50 early in the second quarter but could not convert.
But the 30-year-old was absolutely pivotal to victory with her efforts through the middle of the ground as her stats showed.
Lucas-Rodd was not the only player to celebrate a milestone in the fixture with Hawthorn defender Jenna Richardson marking half a century of AFLW matches supported by a group of 18, including the smallest of supporters with a little baby completing the group, with 17 sporting t-shirts to celebrate ‘Richo’s’ 50th match.
Both were among the best on ground. Richardson finishing with 19 disposals.
FREMANTLE 7.9 (51) DEF ST KILDA 6.4 (40)
If Noa McNaughton’s checkside from the boundary wasn’t classy enough, the first-year forward claimed six possessions, one goal and two goal assists in the final term to help Fremantle claim an 11-point victory.
It means the Dockers will finish the round in eighth, after Hawthorn was defeated by Greater Western Sydney.
In the post-Dal Santo era, St Kilda were strong challengers.
Tyanna Smith battled bravely against stalwart Kiara Bowers, who herself was influential.
While the Saints’ interim coach Matt Brewer encouraged his side to play a ‘stinky game’, in the windy conditions, it fed into Bowers’ hands, creating a stoppage-heavy contest.
She finished with 36 disposals, one goal and 11 tackles.
It was McNaughton though who arguably proved to be the game changer.
First nailing a checkside attempt from the boundary, extending Fremantle’s lead at half time, she lifted when the game was in the balance on two separate occasions.
“You know that when the ball is in her hand, she is going to kick that goal,” said Nikki Harwood on Kayo Sports after her checkside conversion.
Fremantle lost the inside 50 count, but due to moments like McNaughton’s, were much more efficient.
They finished with 73.4 per cent efficiency inside 50 to St Kilda’s 35.5 per cent.
An unlikely two-goal cameo from captain Serene Watson almost had the Saints snatching victory, but they instead remain consigned to the bottom of the ladder.
It isn’t all positive for Fremantle, losing Madi Scanlon to an ankle injury.
The Dockers also kicked only one goal into the wind – which came in the first term – taking their tally to only three goals for the season at that end of Cockburn ARC Oval.
Lisa Webb called for her side to ‘step into the challenge’ in the final term though, and that they did, holding them in good stead to handle the pressure as a potential finals series looms.
WATSON’S SURGE
The last-placed Saints have struggled to score this year, averaging the least goals of any side, but their All-Australian defender made scoring look easy.
Bursting out of the front of a forward stoppage early in the third term, Watson claimed her first major of the afternoon, which was the first of her career.
It took her 76 games to kick her first goal, but only seven minutes to then kick her second, whittling the margin down to four points.
On both occasions, she was swarmed by teammates in celebration.
MILESTONE MATCH
It was a special 75th game for Aisling McCarthy, whose parents made the long trip from Ireland to celebrate the occasion.
15,000km to be exact.
“Today is a very proud day,” said her father Karl.
“Usually, we have to get up at 3 o’clock in the morning (to watch her play),” added her mother Margaret.
McCarthy has won both All-Australian and Best and Fairest honours since moving to Fremantle ahead of the 2024 season.
“Thanks to Freo for really looking after her,” said Karl.
NORTH MELBOURNE 12.13 (85) def ESSENDON 5.3 (33)
A third-quarter burst proved the catalyst for North Melbourne’s 52-point victory over a courageous Essendon outfit.
Late goals to Alice O’Loughlin, Vikki Wall and Tahlia Randall steadied the ship, granting North Melbourne an ultimately insurmountable 26-point lead at the final change.
The Kangaroos went on to score four final-quarter goals to zero.
Maddy Prespakis (32 disposals), Bonnie Toogood (18 disposals, two goals) and Georgia Gee (21 disposals) were strong in defeat for the Bombers.
The game was in their favour early as they controlled the ball and capitalised on chances forward of the ball.
But as the end of each quarter approached, North Melbourne’s class rose to the top – none more than Ash Riddell and Jasmine Garner, who combined for 59 possessions.
The superlatives will never be enough.
“It’s always the end of each quarter we just seem to get on top,” said Darren Crocker heading into the final term.
His comments followed eight Kangaroos scores in the last eight minutes of the third quarter.
They won contested possession 40-26 and uncontested possession 50-22 for the term as their experience simply wore Essendon down.
It wasn’t all that dissimilar to the last time these sides met, in which North Melbourne chipped away at a 0-20 first-quarter deficit.
Despite an eventual 5.3 (33) to 12.13 (85) scoreline, Essendon’s grit didn’t reflect that of a seventeenth-placed side.
Maddison Gay (14 disposals, six tackles) continued to prove her worth after her round seven return, and youngster Amy Gaylor continued to shine.
The Kangaroos’ spread of contributors was vast, even after resting stars Jenna Bruton and Kate Shierlaw.
They now reclaim top spot after a continued see-sawing battle with Geelong.
RANDALL’S TON
It didn’t take long for Tahlia Randall to strike for her 100th AFLW goal.
Assisted by Eilish Sheerin, she claimed a mark right on the goal line, and the goal ended up being as certain as it seemed.
Her 100th goal comes from 115 games, kicking her first in her 31st game after beginning her career as a defender.
She joins Gemma Houghton, Kate Hore and teammate Jasmine Garner in the 100 club, and finished with a game-high three goals for the match.
EARLY JUMP
Essendon came out like a bull at a gate, finishing +19 for disposal and +9 for contested possession.
The highlight was certainly Sophie Strong’s first goal as a bomber, which came off the back of an incredible contest from Sophie Alexander.
While Toogood and Daria Bannister shone in the front half, the efforts of Gaylor and Sophie Van De Heuvel prevented North Melbourne from exchanging blows.
SYDNEY 12.8 (80) def COLLINGWOOD 4.5 (29)
The Sydney Swans have taken another step towards their second AFLW finals series after a 51-point win over Collingwood.
It was a dominant win for the Swans who desperately needed a victory to stay in the top eight after dropping their last two games.
However, it was a dream start for Collingwood at Windy Hill who kicked the first goal of the game through Eliza James in the first minute.
Collingwood looked in control of the game until former captain Bri Davey went down with an ankle injury that seemed to dent the Pies momentum.
The Swans took that moment to get on top kicking two goals in two minutes thanks to some Zippy Fish brilliance and a Cynthia Hamilton snap.
From that moment the Swans never relented, putting the Pies defence under extreme pressure with repeat inside 50s. Chloe Molloy and Hamilton made the most of the opportunities kicking two and three goals a piece to give their side a commanding start to the game.
The was no relief for the Pies who copped another Hamilton goal one minute into the second half. Collingwood couldn’t produce any clean ball movement, constantly under pressure from the Swans, and didn’t register a single inside 50 for the second quarter until 7 minutes in.
While Swans controlled the tempo of the game they couldn’t find the goals scoring just the one goal to finish the first half.
It was in the second half where the Swans really took over, kicking six goals to two to tear the game away from the Pies at their home away from home.
A Holly Cooper goal right on the full time siren was the exclamation point for the Swans on a much needed win and percentage boost heading into the final two weeks of the season.
SWANS FINALS CHANCES
There were fears after an unbeaten start to 2026 that the Swans could miss out on finals all together. It would have been a case of déjà vu for Sydney who had a finals spot all but sewn up in 2025 before a second half of the season form slump and loss in the final game to the Bombers kicked them out of the eight. The win over the Pies puts them in a much better position, they have a superior percentage to the teams chasing them and an easier run home with games against the Eagles and Freo who sit below them on the ladder. One win from those two games should be enough to see the Swans play their second finals series in their short history.
CYNTHIA AND CHLOE SHOW
After a slow start where they conceded the first goal of the afternoon, the Swans needed their superstar forwards to step up and they did. Cynthia Hamilton got on the end of a brilliant run from Zippy Fish and set up the Swans with a handball to Chloe Molloy who kicked truly. From the resulting centre bounce Hamilton then found the footy and the space to squeeze home a goal of her own. Hamilton and Molloy then went goal for goal, both finishing with three majors, with the run ending with Hamilton’s third goal at the start of the second quarter but by then the damage had been done for the Swans.
PIES RESPONSE TO TOUGH WEEK
All eyes were on how Collingwood would respond after accusations that the club’s AFLW program is ‘dysfunctional’. After losing to the previously winless St Kilda last week CEO Craig Kelly was forced to defend the program in an emergency meeting held with players and staff during the week. Coming into the game against the Swans, the Pies were without senior players such as captain Ruby Schleicher, Jordyn Allen and Sarah Rowe. Other senior players Britt Bonicci and Bri Davey have been hampered and playing below their best while excitement machine and future superstar Ash Centra looked to be without support against the Swans. The 51-point loss was not the ideal response for a team fighting to prove themselves and turn their fortunes around.