The GIANTS kicked a goal in the final minute of the game against the Western Bulldogs to win their AFLW Practice match at VU Whitten Oval.

Always in it but never holding the lead, an inside-50 late in the fourth quarter proved the decider as Haneen Zreika chased down the loose ball and scored her second goal of the day.

The GIANTS looked hungry for the ball from the get-go but struggled to capitalise and convert in the opening term, with the Dogs holding an 18-point lead at the first break.

It was young recruit Zarlie Goldsworthy who got the GIANTS on the board early in the second, but unfortunately soon after the 17-year-old was sidelined with a shoulder injury.

Cora Staunton found her rhythm in the second quarter, contributing two goals alongside a major from Georgia Garnett to have the GIANTS trailing by just six points at the main break.

Chloe Dalton and Georgie Fowler joined the fun in the forward line in the third, but it was an even affair as the two teams remained separated by six points at three-quarter time.

Accurate kicking and a revised game plan saw the GIANTS finish on the right side of a hard-fought game of footy.

“It was a really positive day for the girls,” said new head coach Cam Bernasconi.

“We spoke about it last week, being a new era and a new game plan and just trying to create those winning habits - becoming a team that has that belief to win those close games.

“The best thing about it was we played our way. At times it was a good arm wrestle and instead of going into our shells we really took it on and were fearless with how we wanted to move the ball.”

Staunton (two goals), Zreika (two), Goldsworthy, Garnett, Dalton and Fowler (one each) all contributed as the GIANTS were the more accurate side at VU Whitten Oval.

“We’ve kicked 10 goals in an intra club, seven goals last week and eight goals today so it’s [accuracy] starting to become a bit of a trend for us and that’s off the back of players doing the work,” Bernasconi said.

Bernasconi described the win as a team effort, but said he was pleased with the return of Tarni Evans.

“She had a interrupted season six, so it was great have her back and play out four quarters. I thought she was so important and how we moved the footy," he said.

Season seven of AFLW begins in two weeks, with the GIANTS set to take on the Western Bulldogs in round one, on Sunday, August 28 at Ikon Park.