The GIANTS have let a gilt-edged opportunity to step into the top eight slip through its fingers, losing to 17th-placed Hawthorn 13.12 (90) to 11.6 (72) at the MCG on Sunday afternoon.

The first quarter played out as expected with the GIANTS taking control and looking set to cruise to a much-needed win, but then the contest came alive.

The Hawks attacked the ball and the game with abandon in the second term, keeping the GIANTS goalless amid a bundle of yellow and brown highlights capped by a sensational Tim O'Brien mark.

It took till midway through the third quarter before Daniel Lloyd kicked the GIANTS' next major, followed by two more on the trot from Toby Greene that had them back within three points at the final change.

Momentum swung through the fourth quarter until Dylan Moore slotted two in a minute to deny the GIANTS a position in the eight, at least for this week.

Hawks debutant Denver Grainger-Barras was subbed out late in the game with concussion concerns, bringing veteran Shaun Burgoyne on the ground for game 399.

Oh boy, O’Brien!

Tim O’Brien has mostly teased Hawks fans in his previous 89 matches but delivered on his high-leaping promise with a Mark of the Year contender in the second term. After Chad Wingard chipped a kick to the top of the goal square, O’Brien flew over Jack Buckley with his right shin then pushed off the 194cm defender’s shoulder to gain a second lift and send him even higher. The 27-year-old held onto the ball all the way down, then went back to kick a goal and put his team in the lead. The leap seemed to lift O’Brien’s confidence as he kicked a second major just minutes later and ended the quarter with four marks (three contested) and six kicks to go with his two goals.

The barrel is back

Perhaps inspired by Toby Greene’s 67m effort last week, Lachie Whitfield turned to the torpedo in the third term as he ran through the centre square and needed to find a way to quickly get the ball to the Giants’ stand-in skipper who was isolated against Tom Mitchell deep inside 50. Whitfield flushed the left-foot barrel on the run so well that the Hawks’ midfielder panicked and gave away a free kick to Greene, who kicked the goal and reduced the margin to three points. The torpedo was just one Whitfield’s 20 kicks in an outstanding display on a disappointing day for his team.

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R15: Whitfield's magical wrong-foot torp to Toby

Lachie Whitfield conjures an extraordinary torpedo on his left foot to find Toby Greene.

Denver’s debut ends early

The Hawks’ first top 10 draft pick since 2006 arrived with a reputation for taking intercept marks and flying for grabs even when deep in defence. But Denver Grainger-Barras was closer to goal when he gave an early glimpse of his talents, as he soared over a pack and threw in a twist to claim the ball in the air just outside the forward 50 arc. The 195cm defender’s day ended early when he later copped a knock to the head, but by then the 19-year-old had gathered seven disposals and four marks to show he’ll be more than comfortable at the top level.