Facing the Giants for just the third-ever time, the Hawks were forced to make a coaching change with Alastair Clarkson out of action, suffering from Guillain-Barré syndrome.
Assistant Brendon Bolton took the reins as the Hawks brought back star forward Jarryd Roughead and defenders Kyle Cheney and Angus Litherland to take on the 17th placed Giants.
The reigning premiers were however undermanned after losing a trio of stars in Jordan Lewis, Ben McEvoy and Ben Stratton from the previous week and remained without the likes of Sam Mitchell, Josh Gibson, Brian Lake and Cyril Rioli, setting up an intriguing clash against a young GWS outfit.
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QT: Forward Jack Gunston got the Hawks on the board early, snapping a goal from close range, before a free kick to former No.1 Pick Jonathon Patton handed the Giants the quick reply at the other end of the ground.
Hawks wingman Isaac Smith looked to be in ominous touch early as he nailed his first goal for the evening, but it was the Giants who began to control proceedings as they suddenly slammed on the next three majors, stealing the lead.
Roughead however narrowed the margin for the Hawks late in the quarter with the deficit sitting at six points at the first break.
HT: A long, running goal to Brad Sewell squared the ledger early in the second term, while Luke Breust put the reigning premiers in front mid-way through the quarter.
Taking a bounce along the wing before kicking from outside 50, Gunston landed his second goal to edge the Hawks ahead while Smith also snatched his second with a miraculous snap from tight on the boundary, giving the Hawks a seven-point lead at half time.
3QT: Midfielder Dylan Shiel kick-started the Giants with an early goal, while young Hawk Will Langford bounced through his first to reestablish the side’s lead minutes later.
Cameron got on the board with his first, as the Giants piled on four of the next five goals to storm to an 11-point lead as they looked a chance to steal their first-ever win over the Hawks.
But again it was Gunston and Smith who would restore the Hawks’ ascendency, with the pair both goaling late, giving the side a slim one-point lead.
FT: Slicing a goal from almost 50 metres out, Roughead provided the Hawks with some crucial breathing room early in the final term.
Patton pegged one back for the Giants after claiming a towering mark deep in the Giants’ forward line, with Isaac Smith – who continued to run rampant through the middle of the ground – landing a career-high fourth major for the Hawks in reply.
With just six points separating the two teams late in the quarter, Gunston was again the man to stand up, kicking his fourth straight goal from long range with five minutes remaining.
However the game went down to the wire as Giants midfielder Adam Treloar kept his side alive with a snap from tight on the boundary, before Patton again marked strongly, directly in front of goal, moments later.
Looking to cut the margin to a single point, Patton’s shot on goal went wide, handing the Hawks an almighty reprieve.
With only two minutes remaining, the Hawks managed to grind out a seven-point victory, extending their winning run over the fledgling Giants.
HAWTHORN 3.2 7.5 11.6 14.10 (94)
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY 4.2 6.4 11.5 13.9 (87)
GOALS
Hawthorn: I. Smith 4, Gunston 4, Breust 2, Roughead 2, Sewell, Langford
Greater Western Sydney: D. Smith 4, Hoskin-Elliott 2, Patton, Palmer, Shiel, Cameron, Palmer, Patton, Treloar
BEST
Hawthorn: I. Smith, Gunston, Birchall, Hodge, Shiels, Litherland,
Greater Western Sydney: Whitfield, D. Smith, Ward, Scully, Treloar, Shaw
INJURIES
Hawthorn: Jordan Lewis (adductor) replaced in selected side by Will Langford, Hale (quad)
Greater Western Sydney: Whitfield (knee), Cameron (forearm)
SUBSTITUTES
Hawthorn: David Hale (quad) replaced by Billy Hartung in the third quarter
Greater Western Sydney: Aidan Corr replaced by Dylan Addison in the third quarter
Reports: Jeremy Cameron (Greater Western Sydney) reported for rough conduct on Jarryd Roughead (Hawthorn)
Umpires: Leppard, O'Gorman, Meredith
Official crowd: 17,904
