GREATER Western Sydney’s finals hopes are hanging by a thread after it conceded two goals in the final four minutes to lose to Gold Coast by a point at a windswept Mars Stadium in Ballarat. 

The Giants appeared set for victory after Toby Greene's third goal put them 12 points up midway through the final quarter of Sunday's match.

GIANTS v SUNS Full match coverage and stats

The margin was still 11 points with less than four minutes remaining, but goals to Matt Rowell and David Swallow within the space of 60 seconds gave Gold Coast a one-point lead. 

Swallow's dribbled shot on the run from 10m out had actually hit the post, but he was allowed to retake the kick after the umpire deemed the Suns veteran had been pushed in the back.

Greene had the chance to either level the scores or put GWS ahead with a 40m set shot from the pocket with less than two minutes remaining, but the kick against a stiff and swirly breeze fell short and Suns defender Charlie Ballard was on hand to mark it. 

The Suns survived several other frantic attacks by GWS in the final 100 seconds to hold on for the 10.5 (65) to 9.10 (64) win.

But the triumph came at a major cost, with midfielder Hugh Greenwood suffering a suspected ACL tear to his right knee in the first quarter.

"It doesn't look great, the initial reports aren't really good," Gold Coast coach Stuart Dew told the broadcast at half-time.

"It's a suspected ACL at this stage, but we're not confirmed. We feel for him."

The result saw the Giants (7-1-8) drop from eighth spot to 10th, leaving little wiggle room in their fight for a finals berth.

Suns midfielder Touk Miller was outstanding with 32 disposals, 14 tackles and two goals.

Greene booted 3.2 from 20 disposals. His highlight was a fly-kick goal on the line in the third quarter after the ball had come off hands.

Giants midfielder Lachie Whitfield was subbed off at half-time after copping a forearm to the head while taking a strong mark in the second term.

After stumbling to his feet, the midfielder went back and nailed the goal, but was later subbed out.

The wind played a huge factor all day, with Greene's strolling 55m bomb in the opening term showing how powerful it was.

GWS held a 13-point lead heading into the final term, but given it would finish the game kicking against the breeze, Gold Coast was in pole position.

But it wasn't until the final four minutes when the Suns made the critical move.

Greenwood’s dream week shattered
Hugh Greenwood just experienced the joy of the birth of his second child, missing the Suns’ spirited victory over Richmond to do so. But he came crashing back to Earth early in the first term against the Giants with what is feared to be a torn ACL in his right knee. The onball bull was waiting for a kickout to reach him when teammate Sam Day stumbled and took out Greenwood’s legs. Greenwood stayed on the ground clutching his knee until he was helped from the field, and was soon subbed out of the match.

Greene the highlight machine
When Sam Reid bombed the ball forward from inside the centre square, the Suns’ defenders set up in the goal square to simply knock it through for a behind. But Toby Greene read the play while others watched on, sneaking behind the pack then sending his two legs flying high at the bouncing football. Greene’s right boot barely made contact with the ball as it was about to cross the line, but it was enough to score the goal and stretch the Giants’ lead just before three-quarter time. It might not have been Greene’s most spectacular goal of the season, a 67m torpedo probably has it covered, but it was a crafty addition to his ever-expanding list of highlights.

Second chance for Swallow
With the Suns five points behind and less than three minutes remaining, David Swallow pounced on a bouncing ball inside the forward 50 and appeared set to run into an open goal to put his team in front, but a desperate lunge from Giants’ defender Isaac Cumming was enough to affect Swallow’s kick which dribbled into the goal post. However, even before the ball hit the post the umpire had blown the whistle for a push in the back. The Suns’ captain went back and kicked the goal that turned out to be the final score of the game, claiming another upset win for his team.

GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY    2.4    3.4    8.10     9.10 (64) 
GOLD COAST                             1.1    5.3     7.3     10.5 (65)

GOALS
Greater Western Sydney: Greene 3, Himmelberg 2, Whitfield, Hill, Lloyd, Finlayson,
Gold Coast: Sexton 2, Day 2, Miller 2, Atkins, Burgess, Rowell, Swallow

BEST
Greater Western Sydney: Hopper, Kelly, Green, Taylor, Ward, Daniels
Gold Coast: Miller, Ellis, Swallow, Burgess, Sexton, Fiorini, Ballard

INJURIES
Greater Western Sydney: Whitfield (head)
Gold Coast: Greenwood (knee)

SUBSTITUTES
Greater Western Sydney: Finlayson (replaced Whitfield)
Gold Coast: Atkins (replaced Greenwood)

Crowd: 2,592 at Mars Stadium