GEELONG has fallen to their eighth straight defeat this season after a narrow seven-point loss to Greater Western Sydney at GMHBA Stadium on Saturday.

The win for the Giants keeps alive their slim finals hopes.   

Alyce Parker continued her impressive form with 25 disposals, while the Giants were also well served by Elle Bennetts and captain Alicia Eva with 18 touches each. 

Geelong skipper Meg McDonald, fellow defender Maddy McMahon and the ultra consistent Amy McDonald were amongst the better performers for the Cats.

GWS looked to be on top early in the second term after veteran forward Cora Staunton kicked the Giants’ second goal of the game.

But the rest of the second term was played predominantly on Geelong’s terms, with the Cats applying enormous front-half pressure. 

However, Geelong failed to take advantage of its 11-3 inside-50 domination that quarter, adding only a solitary point to go into half-time five points down. 

GWS started to regain control in the third quarter, but like Geelong was unable to make the most of its opportunities, adding only 0.3 while keeping Geelong scoreless. 

The fourth quarter was played at a frenetic pace, with Geelong constantly surging the ball inside 50.

But a desperate GWS side was able to stop Geelong from making any significant impact on the scoreboard, recording a 2.4 (16) to 1.3 (9) victory on the road.

The first blow

Haneen Zreika got the Giants off to an impressive start with a scintillating display early in the first term. The zippy youngster took the ball in the forward pocket, ran around debutant Carly Remmos and threaded the needle to kick the Giants' first goal for the day. In a dour, low-scoring affair, Zreika's early spark proved pivotal. 

Injury woes continue 

For Geelong, the AFLW season can't come to an end soon enough. Sitting winless with one round left to play, the Cats have had torrid luck on the injury front. Already missing two of their best players in Olivia Purcell and Nina Morrison, the Cats also lost youngster Denby Taylor against the Giants. After colliding with Tait Mackrill early in the first term, Taylor played no further part in the game. She was later seen on the boundary with her arm in a sling.

The ladder now

Saturday's win has kept the Giants' incredibly faint finals hopes alive, although they would need a host of results to go their way to sneak into the top six. Given its poor percentage of 71.6, GWS would need a thumping win against fellow finals aspirant Carlton next week and hope the Bulldogs lose their final two matches. The Giants would also need the Demons to lose against Fremantle and Brisbane, but even then Melbourne's impressive percentage (currently 136.4) will likely be too much for GWS to overcome.         

Say what? 

"We are developing obviously as a group and need to get some improvement at taking our chances when the moments come and being as clean as we can with our disposals." - Geelong coach Paul Hood 

"We've certainly looked to try and do things and prepare a little bit differently in the last month … because we've historically been up and down. In other days I think we may have lost this game today … so we were very happy with the outcome." - GWS coach Alan McConnell

What's next?

Geelong will head to Metricon Stadium next Saturday to take on the Suns at 4.10pm AEST. Meanwhile, the Giants will host Carlton at Blacktown International Sportspark for a must-win clash at 4.10pm AEDT next Sunday.                

Match Details

GEELONG 1.1 1.2 1.2 1.3 (9)

GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY 1.1 2.1 2.4 2.4 (16) 

GOALS
Geelong: McWilliams
Greater Western Sydney: Zreika, Staunton

BEST 
Geelong: M.McDonald, A.McDonald, McMahon, Gardiner, McWilliams
Greater Western Sydney: Parker, Bennetts, Staunton, Zreika, Beeson 

INJURIES 
Geelong: Taylor (shoulder) 
Greater Western Sydney: Nil

Reports: Britt Tully for a dangerous tackle on Richelle Cranston in the fourth quarter

Crowd: 963 at GMHBA Stadium