GREATER Western Sydney has survived a huge scare as captain Toby Greene reeled in a pair of match-defining marks to lock in a home final with an 11-point victory over St Kilda at Engie Stadium.
The Giants booted four of the last five goals to be all but certain of hosting an elimination final, while clinging onto faint hope of snatching a double chance with a 15.14 (104) to 14.9 (93) win against the Saints on Sunday.
Greene stepped up to inspire his side when the match was on the line as the chance of a home final began slipping out of their grasp, with two goals and a couple of classic marks in a see-sawing final term.
The three-time All-Australian was the first to respond after the Saints had booted three consecutive goals to open up a healthy lead before the Giants made a late surge.
Greene pulled the Giants closer with his fourth goal of the game then set up another within a minute as he took command at the centre bounce.
But when the Saints threatened again as Max Hall slotted a set shot from a difficult angle, Greene threw the Giants on his back.
The skipper pulled down a screamer in the forward pocket before hitting the post, but then bettered that mark when running back with the flight into the centre square just as the Saints were about to counterattack.
Darcy Jones booted the sealer with less than a minute remaining to ensure the Giants will be back home in the coming weeks.
Max Gruzewski also stood tall in the Giants' injury-hit forward line with three critical goals which could have been much more as he missed a pair of set shots in an otherwise promising display.
Tom Green (33 disposals) was important around the stoppages and Finn Callaghan (26) was superb early as the Giants made a fast start.
The Saints came close to shaping the top eight for the second season in a row as they stifled the Giants' ball movement and restricted the finals-bound side to only 28 inside 50s to the last change.
But the Giants had more run and dare late in the game while the Saints paid the price for star midfielder Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera spending time on the bench with cramp in the dying stages.
Wanganeen-Milera has hardly been slowed down by speculation around his future this year so it was little surprise to see him hit the ground running after re-signing with the Saints.
The young gun regularly showed his class after agreeing to a lucrative deal earlier this week and came close to sparking the Saints in the opening half.
He missed three gilt-edge opportunities to give his side a boost with some unusually wayward kicking for goal only producing three behinds.
But the 22-year-old did his usual damage around the field as he turned provider and finished with 23 disposals, including 10 contested possessions, and seven clearances as he continues to grow his game.
Darcy Wilson gave the Saints plenty of hope for the future as well as giving them a sniff against the Giants after booting a career-best five goals.
Saints veteran Zak Jones had an opportunity to reclaim the lead with less than five minutes remaining but hooked his set shot from 40m out and directly in front, before the Giants dug deep to hold on.
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY 4.3 6.6 10.7 15.14 (104)
ST KILDA 2.5 6.7 10.8 14.9 (93)
GOALS
Greater Western Sydney: Greene 4, Gruzewski 3, Jones 2, Himmelberg, Thomas, Rowston, Bedford, Brown, Green
St Kilda: Wilson 5, Phillipou 2, Collard 2, Sharman 2, Hall 2, Keeler
BEST
Greater Western Sydney: Greene, Callaghan, Green, Ash, Whitfield, Gruzewski, Himmelberg
St Kilda: Wanganeen-Milera, Wilson, Windhager, Sinclair, Steele
INJURIES
Greater Western Sydney: Coniglio (concussion)
St Kilda: Phillipou (calf)
SUBSTITUTES
Greater Western Sydney: Jacob Wehr (replaced Stephen Coniglio in the second quarter)
St Kilda: Jack Macrae (replaced Mattaes Phillipou in the third quarter)
