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AAP
AAP
Sport
Troy Whittaker

Goal after siren hands GWS win over Saints

GWS forward Cora Staunton has scored eight goals for the third season running in AFLW. (AAP)

Katherine Smith has slotted a goal after the siren to hand GWS a thrilling two-point victory and break the winless St Kilda's hearts at Blacktown International Sportspark.

Smith showed immense composure to nail the pressure free kick as the Giants returned to the winners' circle with a 6.5 (41) to 5.9 (39) win on Wednesday.

It marked the first time an AFLW game has been decided by a goal after the siren.

With both teams coming off performances in which they failed to kick a goal and posted their lowest-ever score, the last-gasp result was a much-improved effort all around.

The spirited Saints continually lifted in a bid to break their duck and appeared set to do so when Caitlin Greiser and Tarni White booted majors in the final quarter.

The match was in the balance with the Giants leading 4.5 (29) to 3.7 (25) coming into the final term before veteran GWS forward Cora Staunton drilled her third goal to provide breathing room.

Solidifying her status as GWS' leading goal-scorer in 2022, Staunton also notched up eight goals for the third season running.

After heavy losses to Adelaide and Melbourne, scoring only one goal across the games, a strong start was crucial for the Giants and Staunton provided it by taking advantage of a free kick from the top of the square.

Staunton added another major in a scrappy first half where GWS' Nicola Barr and Saints pair Nicola Xenos and Ashleigh Richards also kicked goals in a tit-for-tat contest.

The Giants were poised to skip clear when Louise Stephensen slotted the Sherrin through the middle of the posts to open the third quarter but Xenos returned serve to set up a thrilling finish.

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