Round 1: Melbourne v GIANTS, MCG
Loss - Melbourne 12.8 (80) v GIANTS 10.18 (78)
Melbourne came from behind to assert itself over the GIANTS as the AFL's team on the rise, with young star Jesse Hogan kicking three final-quarter goals to snatch a thrilling two-point win.
Uninspiring for the majority of the first three quarters, the Demons flicked into attacking mode and dominated the final term to kick six of the last eight goals.
Hogan was well beaten by opponent Phil Davis up until the last change, but he benefited from the Demons final-quarter flair to star alongside Jack Watts in the run home. The GIANTS had looked destined to start 2016 on a winning note, leading by 21 points at three-quarter time and generally keeping the game on their terms.
They were incredibly wasteful, however, kicking 2.6 in the third quarter when they could have all but settled the result.
Round 2: GIANTS v Geelong, Manuka Oval
Win - GIANTS 13.11 (89) v Geelong 11.10 (76)
Steve Johnson claimed a victory over his former club at the first attempt as Greater Western Sydney stunned Geelong by 13 points in Canberra.
Off-season signing Johnson booted two goals and laid a few hard hits on ex-teammates in the hearty victory at a sold-out Manuka Oval on Sunday.
It was the GIANTS' first win of the season and their first in five clashes against Geelong.
The GIANTS almost let slip a 37-point third-term lead but some solid defensive work and a late goal to Ryan Griffen sealed one of the biggest wins in the expansion club's brief history.
Round 3: Swans v GIANTS, SCG
Loss - Swans 14.9 (93) v GIANTS 10.8 (68)
Another best-on-ground performance from midfielder Luke Parker and a third straight four-goal haul for Lance Franklin helped the Sydney Swans maintain their dominance over Greater Western Sydney at the SCG on Saturday night
Parker, who was awarded the Brett Kirk Medal post-match after his 30-possession night, along with fellow guns Josh Kennedy, Dan Hannebery and co-captain Kieren Jack, put on a brilliant four-quarter display to win the ninth Sydney Derby.
The GIANTS had their moments but had no effective tall forwards and, despite battling hard, were overwhelmed by the Swans.
Franklin had an absorbing duel with GWS co-captain Phil Davis, with the pair both outstanding for their respective sides.
GWS did well to stay in the game for most of the night considering the lopsided inside-50 count (67-47) - although the GIANTS added 20 of those in the final quarter.
Round 4: GIANTS v Port Adelaide, Manuka Oval
Win - GIANTS 22.19 (151) v Port Adelaide 9.11 (65)
Greater Western Sydney smashed a host of club records in a thumping 86-point win over Port Adelaide at Manuka Oval on Sunday afternoon.
The dominant victory in Canberra was the GIANTS’ highest ever score and biggest winning margin since joining the competition in 2012.
It marked their second win in two games at the ground this season, having beaten Geelong in round two, and takes their record in the nation's capital to four from their past five.
They had 14 individual goalscorers - youngster Rory Lobb stepped up with four goals, Rhys Palmer booted three, while Callan Ward, Steve Johnson and Ryan Griffen each chimed in with two.
Dylan Shiel was once again hugely influential, as was Shane Mumford who dominated the ruck against opposite Matthew Lobbe.
Round 5: St Kilda v GIANTS, Etihad Stadium
Win - St Kilda 12.7 (79) v GIANTS 19.12 (126)
Greater Western Sydney stormed into the top eight for the first time this season, with forward Jeremy Cameron returning from suspension to kick five goals in a powerful 47-point win over St Kilda on Sunday.
In a blistering fourth quarter that stunned the Saints, GWS kicked six unanswered goals to seal the win under the roof at Etihad Stadium.
Cameron repaid his team after a four-match suspension, booting four first-half goals in his return and finishing with 5.0 from just seven kicks as part of a potent forward line that included Toby Greene and Steve Johnson (four goals each).
The Saints were brave for three quarters and trailed by just 16 points at the final change, but the GIANTS went on a fearsome 13-minute run to take the margin out to a game-high 52 points.
Round 6: GIANTS v Hawthorn, Spotless Stadium
Win - GIANTS 24.14 (158) v Hawthorn 12.11 (83)
Greater Western Sydney trumped last year's upset win over Hawthorn and announced itself as a genuine premiership contender after destroying the reigning champ by 75 points at Spotless Stadium.
Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson said on Friday that the whole competition was starting to take notice of the GIANTS’ form so far in 2016, and if some of GWS' rivals hadn't yet been convinced, they will be now after the mauling.
The GIANTS kicked their highest score in the rampant win, surpassing the 22.19 (151) they racked up two weeks ago against Port Adelaide, and set up the win with the best first quarter in their five-season history, a 7.3 (45) blitz of the Hawks, who managed just 2.1 in reply.
Star recruit Steve Johnson rolled back the clock with five first-half goals for GWS, while emerging big man Rory Lobb kicked four, and was unstoppable in the air with 10 marks, eight of them contested.
Jeremy Cameron, Tom Scully, Rhys Palmer and Toby Greene all kicked three apiece for the GIANTS.
Round 7: Fremantle v GIANTS, Domain Stadium
Win - Fremantle 11.11 (77) v GIANTS 14.11 (95)
Greater Western Sydney strengthened its finals credentials with a hard-earned 18-point win over Fremantle at Domain Stadium.
The GIANTS broke their duck in Perth after going winless in their previous six attempts, to consign the Dockers to their seventh-straight loss to start the season.
The GIANTS set up their win with a blistering 15-minute burst in the second term when they kicked 5.2 to no score to open up a 20-point half-time lead.
Stephen Coniglio was outstanding in the midfield with 32 disposals and two first-quarter goals. Callan Ward had 31 touches in his 150th game, including 19 contested, and seven tackles. Josh Kelly gathered 26 disposals, three score assists and a goal. Shane Mumford was outstanding in the ruck with 42 hit-outs.
Round 8: GIANTS v Gold Coast, Spotless Stadium
Win - GIANTS 22.17 (149) v Gold Coast 9.4 (58)
Greater Western Sydney recorded its biggest winning margin to continue Gold Coast's woes, with a 91-point home thrashing of the Suns.
Forward Jeremy Cameron equalled his club record of seven goals, a mark he has achieved on four occasions, with the GIANTS strolling to victory.
The GIANTS controlled the game from the outset, scoring the first 20 points and kicking seven of the first eight goals.
It was the fourth time in their past five games the potent GIANTS had scored more than 125 points.
Cameron's big haul was supplemented by three-goal efforts from Rhys Palmer and Rory Lobb.
Midfielder Jacob Hopper made an impressive debut for GWS, tallying 32 touches.
Round 9: GIANTS v Western Bulldogs, Spotless Stadium
Win - GIANTS 5.8 (98) v Bulldogs 10.13 (73)
Greater Western Sydney shrugged off the early loss of two defenders to outclass the Western Bulldogs by 25 points at Spotless Stadium on Sunday.
Led brilliantly by hard-nosed co-captain Callan Ward, defender Heath Shaw and star forward Jeremy Cameron, who kicked five goals, the victory consolidated the GIANTS’ spot in the top four.
The home side lost Matt Buntine (concussion) and Tim Mohr (hamstring) in the opening term, with Bulldogs midfielder Lin Jong likely to come under scrutiny from the Match Review Panel for his bump on Buntine.
But it mattered little as Ward, Stephen Coniglio, Tom Scully and Dylan Shiel capitalised on the dominance of ruckman Shane Mumford to set up the comfortable win.
Shaw continued his stellar season to finish the game with an incredible game-high 38 possessions – 36 of them kicks, which were all effective - while the returning Toby Greene kicked three goals to go with his 22 possessions.
Round 10: Adelaide v GIANTS, Adelaide Oval
Loss - Adelaide 15.17 (107) v GIANTS 13.7 (85)
Spearheaded by skipper Taylor Walker and Eddie Betts, Adelaide survived a final-term fightback by Greater Western Sydney to finish 22-point victors at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night.
Walker and Betts kicked five goals each as the Crows had a 46-point three-quarter time lead cut to just 17, minutes before the final siren.
The GIANTS were well-served by Dylan Shiel (29 disposals, two goals), Josh Kelly (29) and Stephen Coniglio (30) and booted five final-term goals to one to scare the home side.
Trailing by 46 points heading into the final term, the GIANTS had to score in bulk and they had to do it quickly.
Rory Lobb and Tom Scully managed to peg two goals back, Toby Greene added a third for the quarter before Scully converted again; the home crowd had been silenced as the Giants steamrolled their way to the final siren.
Greene dribbled home another to reduce to margin to just 17 points, but a lengthy delay for injured Giant Adam Kennedy stemmed his side’s momentum and Betts to iced the game with his fifth goal from point-blank range.
Round 11: Geelong v GIANTS, Simonds Stadium
Loss - Geelong 14.14 (98) v GIANTS 14.4 (88)
Geelong spoiled triple-premiership star Steve Johnson's homecoming with a hard-earned 10-point win over Greater Western Sydney at Simonds Stadium on Saturday.
In an engrossing contest befitting third and fourth on the ladder, Geelong had to dig deep to outlast the visitors over a four-quarter slugfest, finally shaking off GWS and emerging 14.14 (98) to 14.4 (88) winners.
Coming off shock losses to Carlton and Collingwood, the Cats needed to bounce back and, despite some wastefulness in front of goal, got the job done to stay right in the hunt for a top-four spot.
After going down swinging against the Crows in Adelaide last week, the GIANTS were again gallant on the road, but couldn't quite make the most of the momentum when it swung their way.
There were eight lead changes, with GWS jumping to an 11-point lead at the first break but then falling behind by five at the long change as the Cats hit back.
The GIANTS surged again in the third term, dragging themselves back off the canvas and closing to within two points at the last change after the Cats had gained the ascendancy with a tidal wave of inside 50s (76-48).
Round 12: GIANTS v Swans, Spotless Stadium
Win - GIANTS 15.15 (105) v Swans 9.9 (63)
Greater Western Sydney showed they are ready to hang with the AFL big dogs after celebrating their 100th game with a 42-point-win over local rivals, the Sydney Swans.
A surge either side of half-time set up the victory, just their second win in 10 Sydney derbies.
The result on Sunday at Spotless Stadium snapped the GIANTS’ two-match losing skid and a three-match Swans' winning streak.
A win would have put the Swans top, but they were second-best for most of the game, which was viewed by a crowd of 21,541, a record for a sporting fixture at the ground since its redevelopment.
The GIANTS won the midfield battle and got more drive out of defence through Brett Kirk medallist Heath Shaw, Zac Williams and Nathan Wilson. Toby Greene booted four goals in the victory.
Round 13: Essendon v GIANTS, Etihad Stadium
Win - Essendon 12.18 (90) v GIANTS 17.15 (117)
Greater Western Sydney survived a scare from a spirited Essendon to reclaim fifth position on the AFL ladder, battling to a 27-point win at Etihad Stadium on Sunday night.
In a performance befitting of a bigger crowd than 14,463, the bottom-placed Bombers led by 12 points at half-time - an effort that prompted a standing ovation from the red-and-black faithful - and were still within two points early in the last quarter, before the GIANTS ground out an unconvincing win.
Compounding matters for GWS on an uninspiring day, key defender Phil Davis suffered a left foot injury that he battled on with, while Nick Haynes was left nursing a sore back after a heavy mid-air collision with Orazio Fantasia late in the third term.
It took three second-half goals from debutant Matthew Kennedy and four from the busy Toby Greene to lift the GIANTS to victory.
Midfielder Stephen Coniglio and defender Heath Shaw were prolific ball winners for the victors, although an indication of the GIANTS’ lack of sharpness, and the Dons' desperation, was that Shaw produced a few uncharacteristic kicking errors.
Round 14: GIANTS v Carlton, Spotless Stadium
Win - GIANTS 18.19 (127) to Carlton 9.11 (65)
Veteran forward Steve Johnson produced a vintage effort to propel the GIANTS back into the top four with a scrappy but gritty 62-point win over Carlton at Spotless Stadium.
With key forward Jeremy Cameron still battling to find his best form, triple-premiership winner Johnson stepped up with four goals against a Blues side that kept the hosts honest for substantial stretches before succumbing in front of 10,355 fans.
The GIANTS' win was made more challenging by the loss of co-captain Phil Davis to a calf injury in the second quarter, which left the home side down a rotation and a crucial leader.
GWS led from start to finish but had a fight on their hands to bury the Blues.
Dylan Shiel and Josh Kelly grabbed two goals each, with the major scoring shared among seven other players. A neat snap by Cameron in the dying moments, his third goal of the game, gave a reminder of his capabilities in what has been a challenging season for the star forward so far.
The win caps off a tough but generally successful period for the GIANTS, who now have a week's rest before starting the run to the what will almost certainly by their first finals appearance.
The GIANTS finished the first half of the 2016 season in fourth on the AFL ladder with 10 wins and four losses. They have the bye this weekend before returning to Spotless Stadium to take on Collingwood in round 16.
