GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY 2.4 3.5 8.7 14.9 (93) ESSENDON 3.5 4.7 5.9 8.13 (61)
Goals: Greater Western Sydney: C McCarthy 2, D Smith 2, J Cameron 2, J Kelly 2, L Whitfield, N Haynes, R Palmer, S Coniglio, T Greene, W Hoskin-Elliott. Essendon: B Howlett 2, C Hooker 2, J Daniher 2, J Giles, S Edwards.
Best: Greater Western Sydney: Greene, Kelly, Coniglio, Shaw, Ward, Treloar. Essendon: Goddard, Hibberd, Stanton.
Injuries: Greater Western Sydney: S. Coniglio (head knock), T. Scully (shoulder). Essendon: J Gwilt (groin).
Reports: Essendon: A Cooney (Essendon) for rough conduct on S. Coniglio (GWS) in the fourth quarter.
Umpires: Luke Farmer, David Harris, Brent Wallace.
Official Crowd: 10,093 at Spotless Stadium.
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For much of Sunday afternoon anyone at Spotless Stadium would have been wondering: how did both these teams beat Hawthorn? They would have left none the wiser.
It speaks volumes about Greater Western Sydney's progress this year that they were able to defeat Essendon for this was a game they had no right to win.
For the best part of three quarters the Giants resembled the bottom four side they have been for four years rather than a finals contender.
The Giants' 10th win of the year, by 32 points, keeps them half a game outside the eight, and with winnable games to come against Port Adelaide, Melbourne and Carlton a maiden finals appearance remains on the cards.
"If you're good enough you make it, if you're not you don't," said coach Leon Cameron.
The 14.9 (93) to 8.13 (61) victory, however, was marred by an ugly incident in the dying minutes which left Stephen Coniglio rattled by a hit from former Brownlow Medallist Adam Cooney, who was booked for rough conduct.
The Giants trailed by 13 points in the second term but a run of 10 out of 11 goals in the second half turned the game around.
"That was a pleasing thing, the side's found a way to win when they weren't going as well as they should have been," Cameron said.
Toby Greene was in his element, providing the spark for the Giants with some inspirational repeat efforts early in the third quarter, while Josh Kelly's class shone when the game was on the line.
That the Giants were still in the hunt in the third term said as much for their perseverance as it did the Bombers' inefficient use of the ball.
Essendon had 55 more possessions, won the clearances and had 13 more entries inside 50 but as has been their way this year failed to translate that into anything meaningful on the scoreboard.
How a side with Joe Daniher and Jake Carlisle in their forward 50 can manage just five goals until time on in the last quarter is a reflection on how poorly the Bombers have used the ball this year.
"We struggle with the easy things - kicking the ball and hitting a target - the things that come very naturally to AFL footballers," said Bombers coach James Hird.
The Giants were also suffering from the same affliction but they found a remedy just in the nick of time.
After leading early in the first term, it took the Giants until midway through the third quarter before they were again in front.
In between they were playing their part in one of the more humdrum games of the year. In pristine conditions, both sides managed just seven goals between them until 12 minutes after half time.
The Giants' problem was they could not get their hands on the ball. When they did moved it with little speed or purpose.
They lifted their work rate after half time and the subbing on of forward Cam McCarthy, replacing the injured Tom Scully, provided further impetus.
He kicked two goals and provided extra mobility to the Giants' forward line.
"He came on at a time when we needed a spark and he gave us that," Cameron said.
"We were rapt he gave us that energy. Hopefully he's had his dip and can build back up for the remaining part of the year."
Jonathon Patton was held goalless but did enough to be encouraged by his return game.
