Local favourite Alyce Parker has returned to her ball-winning best and Cora Staunton booted four goals to lead the GIANTS back into the top three of Conference A with a comprehensive 45-point win over Richmond in Wagga Wagga.

After being heavily targeted in last week's loss to Brisbane, Parker – who grew up on a farm just outside of Wagga – inspired the GIANTS with 24 possessions and four tackles in their 7.14 (56) to 1.5 (11) victory on Saturday.

Fellow midfielders Rebecca Beeson and Jess Dal Pos were also highly influential.

Staunton was too quick and smart for the Tigers' defence and Rebecca Privitelli (two goals and five marks) was an outstanding ally as the pair of mobile targets helped the GIANTS take 17 marks inside 50 to just one.

Gun Richmond onballer Monique Conti was her team's only prime mover and finished with 21 disposals and six tackles, while former GIANT Phoebe Monahan (22 touches) fought hard in defence against a constant wave of GIANTS attacks.

The GIANTS could have ended the contest early in the third term if they'd kicked straight, but it mattered little as they took advantage of a lopsided inside 50 count (32-20) to kick the only four goals of the second half, and the last five goals of the match.

After Adelaide was defeated by North Melbourne earlier on Saturday, the GIANTS knew a massive reward was on offer, and the four-quarter performance would have pleased coach Alan McConnell.

The defeat continued a miserable first season for Richmond, which remains winless after five rounds.

GIANTS            2.5    3.8    4.13    7.14 (56)
RICHMOND     1.1    1.2     1.3       1.5 (11)

GOALS
GIANTS: Staunton 4, Privitelli 2, Halvorsen
Richmond: Bernardi

BEST
GIANTS: Staunton, Parker, Beeson, Privitelli, Tully, Bennetts
Richmond: Conti, Monahan, Dempsey

INJURIES
GIANTS: Nicola Barr (hamstring)
Richmond: Nil

LATE CHANGES
GIANTS: Nil
Richmond: Nil

Reports: Nil
Crowd: 3,377 at Robertson Oval