TOBY Greene was the answer to everything on Friday night.

When the GIANTS needed a moment of magic against the run of play, Greene was the one to provide it. When they needed someone to convert on the scoreboard having finally secured a brief moment of respite, well, Greene was the one to deliver exactly that as well.

In every pivotal moment during Greater Western Sydney's resilient 12-point victory over Richmond, Greene was the difference-maker. His five-goal haul, to go with 18 disposals, eight marks and seven score involvements, was key in the GIANTS keeping their season alive.

GWS had been forced to absorb wave after wave of Tigers pressure in their 9.8 (62) to 6.14 (50) victory. But having done that throughout several important passages of play, they then countered with surgical precision in a carefully meticulous and resilient performance.

GIANTS BOUNCE BACK Full match coverage and stats

And when they did counter, Greene was at the heart of it.

Along with Josh Kelly (26 disposals, one goal) and Stephen Coniglio (24 disposals, six tackles), Greene ensured the memories of last year's Grand Final humiliation were slowly but surely scrubbed away. Another display like that would not be repeated, nor tolerated.

Instead, a spirited victory broke a run of successive defeats.

Richmond, dominant 89-point winners in last year's premiership decider, threatened to haunt GWS yet again on Friday night. But this time, it was in a different manner.

Having trailed by 27 points midway through the third quarter, Dustin Martin (23 disposals, two goals) inspired a comeback and quickly helped cut the deficit to just one kick.

But the GIANTS showed a newfound sense of strength. And when they needed a match-winner, they had one. The man to kick the sealing goal? You guessed it. Toby Greene.