GIANTS defender Nicola Barr has become an unlikely hero up forward, helping lift the COVID-hit GIANTS to a 21-point NAB AFLW win over the wayward Western Bulldogs at Henson Park.

Barr entered Friday's match having never kicked a goal in her 33-game professional career.

But she ended the match with three to her name in the 7.1 (43) to 2.10 (22) victory.

Fellow defender Louise Stephenson, who had kicked just one goal in her 28 previous games, finished with two goals and an assist after being stationed up forward.

The GIANTS had Pepa Randall, Chloe Dalton, Rebecca Privitelli and Katie Loynes ruled out due to the competition's health and safety protocols, and they were dealt a late blow when Georgia Garnett was forced to join them after she contracted COVID-19 for a second time.

But with Barr and Stephenson excelling up forward in a surprise tactical move, the GIANTS sealed victory despite losing the inside 50m count 33-21.

Barr was so excited with the win that she dropped the F-bomb in an on-field Fox Footy interview after the game.

"Sorry, I'm not allowed to swear," Barr said sheepishly.

"It's a massive win for us. This will be one of our best wins, for me.

"I enjoyed the new role, but I can't do it without all the girls in the middle and the back who were feeding it to us and working really hard."

The Bulldogs had been out of action for 20 days after being struck down by COVID-19, but they could have come away with victory if not for their horrible goalkicking.

"We started the way I feared we might start," Bulldogs coach Nathan Burke said.

"We were very rusty, struggling to hit a target, a bit on the back foot.

"Then we worked our way into the game ... but we couldn't capitalise. We never put scoreboard pressure on the GIANTS at all."

Eleanor Brown (19 disposals) and Kirsty Lamb (18) battled hard for the Bulldogs, while Ellie Blackburn finished with 12 disposals, eight tackles, and a goal.

Alyce Parker racked up a game-high 20 disposals for the GIANTS.

The GIANTS had just three inside 50s in the opening term, but it made every one count to end the quarter with 3.0 to its name.

Barr celebrated wildly upon kicking her maiden AFLW goal, while Stephenson was causing the Bulldogs' defence all sorts of headaches with two first-quarter goals.

Stephenson turned provider in the second term to set up Barr for her second, and a successful snap from 40-year-old Irish forward Cora Staunton saw the margin extend to 21 points at half-time.

The Bulldogs made the most of the strong breeze to dominate the third quarter, with almost the entire term played in their front half.

But a wayward return of 1.4 meant the margin of 11 points was going to be hard to overcome against the breeze in the final term.

GIANTS                             3.0     5.1     5.1     7.1       (43)
WESTERN BULLDOGS     1.4     1.4     2.8     2.10     (22)

GOALS

GIANTS: Barr 3, Stephenson 2, Staunton, Doyle
Western Bulldogs: Cranston, Blackburn

BEST

GIANTS: Barr, Parker, Eva, Pease, Grierson
Western Bulldogs: Brown, Cranston, Blackburn, Fitzgerald

INJURIES

GIANTS: Nil
Western Bulldogs: Nil

Reports: Nil