Rising star Zarlie Goldsworthy has steered GWS to a hair-raising two-point triumph over AFLW finals hopefuls Carlton at Henson Park.
With the Giants missing their strongest ball magnets in Alyce Parker (ankle) and Bec Beeson (suspension) on Saturday, the 18-year-old kicked five goals to lead GWS to their second win of the season, 8.1 (49) to 7.5 (47).
Goldsworthy worked overtime to also collect 11 tackles and 14 contested possessions, alongside Haneen Zreika (16 tackles) and Nicola Barr (five clearances).
"The message at three-quarter time was, 'we've been in this position a few times this year and every time we go away from our system, we fall to the other side of the result'," Giants coach Cam Bernasconi said.
"So we stuck to our system, problem solved."
Also without veterans Jess Good (ankle) and Jess Dal Poss (leg), the Blues were boosted by their own young star in Keeley Sherar (one goal, 22 disposals), with Breann Moody (23 disposals, 13 clearances) and Abbie McKay supporting (25, 11).
Now on a two-game losing streak, ninth-placed Carlton will need to win their clashes against Essendon and St Kilda to reach the top eight.
Blues coach Mathew Buck played down concerns they could miss out on a first finals appearance since 2020.
"There's two games left to go and we're well and truly in the hunt," he said.
"We'll dust ourselves off from this one. I can't control what everyone else does, so we go after us."
Sherar drew first blood with a left-foot snap, but two brilliant goals by Goldsworthy and Jessica Doyle put the Giants ahead by four points at quarter time.
Mia Austin and Imogen Milford hit back for the Blues in the second term to create a seven-point lead.
Desperate to keep Carlton close, workhorse Goldsworthy collected her eighth tackle to earn a holding-the-ball free kick and slotted her second major to reduce the margin to one point before halftime.
The arm wrestle continued well into the second half, with prolific Blues goalkicker Darcy Vescio booting the opening goal in a bid to break away from GWS.
With the margin reduced to two points thanks to a third-quarter goal by Emily Pease, Goldsworthy monstered the visitors with two majors in a minute.
Irishwoman Erone Fitzpatrick and Austin's goals put Carlton back in front, but Goldsworthy again took matters into her own hands with her fifth.
With two rounds left of the home-and-away season and no hope of playing finals, the 16th-placed Giants take on Gold Coast before their final match against Port Adelaide.
GWS may be without Brodee Mowbray, who was taken off the ground in the third term and did not return after sustaining a knee injury.
ap
