Coleman Medal leader Hogan did the damage with six goals but it was livewire forward Brent Daniels that sparked the Giants to a 15.11 (101) to 14.8 (92) triumph on Saturday afternoon.
The Giants had to withstand a brave Dockers’ challenge but held on to clinch the win and move closer to sealing a double chance in the finals.
The pair of finals hopefuls went blow-for-blow through a gripping final term until Hogan was awarded a critical 50m penalty and kicked from the edge of the goalsquare with less than three minutes remaining to secure the four points and move to 67 majors for the season to equal the Giants’ club record.
Daniels stood out as a devastatingly creative forward while booting three goals of his own, and making as much impact further up the ground as he gathered 29 disposals and seven clearances.
Tom Green (40 disposals, 13 clearances) was immense around the stoppages and stepped up in the second half, while Stephen Coniglio (24) and Josh Kelly (22) put recent injury concerns behind them to fine-tune for a finals campaign.
Lachie Whitfield continued his stellar form with 26 polished possessions and combined well with Lachie Ash (20) as the duo moved the ball sublimely out of defence.
The third-place Giants next take on the sixth-place Western Bulldogs on Sunday from 12.30pm at Mars Stadium in Ballarat.
Galloping Giants boost win streak
ENJOYING their seventh straight win, the GWS Giants have tightened their grip on a top-four finish as Jesse Hogan returned to haunt his former side in a rollicking nine-point victory over Fremantle at Engie Stadium.
