GREATER Western Sydney emphatically responded to last week's 96-point loss with an assured 17-point victory over Carlton on Saturday afternoon.

The 4.5 (29) to 1.6 (12) win keeps the Giants' finals hopes alive, while the Blues' campaign continues to stutter.

Alyce Parker (18 disposals, five clearances) and Georgia Garnett (17 disposals, 12 marks) led a host of Giants ballwinners, including Jodie Hicks (14 disposables), Nicola Barr and Alicia Eva (13 disposals each). Emily Goodsir made an emphatic return from maternity leave with a game-high nine tackles.

Cora Staunton kicked two goals for the Giants, including a fourth quarter major which broke the back of the Blues, while Emily Pease also booted two.

Vaomua Laloifi (16 disposals) was Carlton’s best in an intriguing battle with Staunton which yielded no loser. Laloifi’s mobility and defensive prowess saved a larger margin.

For Carlton, Abbie McKay (23 disposals, eight tackles, seven clearances), Mimi Hill (21 disposals, four clearances), and Breann Moody (22 hit outs) competed honestly all day but their effect was mostly nullified. Gabriella Pound contributed the Blues' only major.

GIANTS v BLUES Full match coverage and stats

The Giants' intent to draw a line under their embarrassing defeat to Adelaide was obvious as they tackled ferociously all game, especially inside their own attacking 50.

They matched their aggression with tactical nous as Carlton often struggled to move the ball out of its defensive 50 due to the positioning and discipline of the Giants' defenders behind the ball.

Conversely, the Giants looked relatively free-flowing as they moved the ball on rebound through the centre of the ground finding free players.

GWS had likely conceded pre-match that it would not win the ruck contest (Carlton was +35 in hitouts) and the resulting clearances (+12 to the Blues). However, they more than made up for this by winning around the ground contests thanks to Parker, Hicks, Barr and Eva.

Carlton had long periods where they controlled possession and had repeat entries into their attacking 50, especially early in the first and third quarters. But on each occasion, the Giants' defence of Annalyse Lister, Tarni Evans and Tanya Hetherington bent but did not break as they absorbed the Blues' attacks.

GWS’s composure was also on display late in the second and third terms where it chipped the ball across half back and the wing in the final two minutes of each quarter.

The time-killing tactic invited embarrassment if Carlton had been able to intercept and break quickly, but the Giants' short game was superb and assured as they ran out the game with confidence and breathed life into their season.

Injuries brings opportunities
Pepa Randall’s cruel ACL injury created an opportunity for Goodsir to return to the Giants' list. Goodsir missed season six and the start of season seven after the birth of her son, Cruz, in February. With Brìd Stack’s a late out with a calf injury, Goodsir returned to the Giants' side for the first time in two seasons. She did not waste her opportunity, racking up the most tackles on the ground and providing outside run.

Staunton prevails in spearhead shootout
The AFLW’s two historical leading goalkickers took tp the same field at Henson Park. Carlton’s Darcy Vescio (55 AFLW goals prior to this match) and the Giants' Cora Staunton (52) battled it out at opposite ends of the ground but the Irishwoman clearly had the better day. In addition to her two goals, Staunton was a physical presence in marking contests and took on some ruck battles against the Blues' Moody. Vescio could not increase their tally, being well held by Annalyse Lister.

Up next
Carlton will open round seven against St Kilda at RSEA Park on Friday evening, while the Giants take on Collingwood on Sunday afternoon at Victoria Park.

GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY        2.2     3.4     3.4     4.5 (29)  
CARLTON                                        1.2     1.3     1.5     1.6 (12)    

GOALS
Greater Western Sydney:  Pease 2, Staunton 2
Carlton: Pound

BEST 
Greater Western Sydney:  Parker, Garnett, Staunton, Pease, Hicks
Carlton: Laloifi, McKay, Hill, Moody

INJURIES 
Greater Western Sydney: Nil
Carlton: Lily Goss (shoulder)

LATE CHANGES
Greater Western Sydney: Emily Goodsir replacing Brìd Stack (calf)
Carlton: Nil 

Reports: Nil