STAWELL overcame a 14-point deficit midway through the final term against Minyip-Murtoa on Saturday, clinching a thrilling seven-point win and reaffirming its finals credentials in the Wimmera Football League.
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The Warriors made a hot start to open up a 15-point, quarter-time advantage against the Burras, but had that lead reeled in by the main break to trail by two points at half-time.
With a slight breeze favouring the eastern end of the ground, Minyip-Murtoa managed to hold off the Warriors in the third term to tie the score at the final change and set up a nail-biting finish.
Jack Musgrove booted five goals for the day and was key to Stawell remaining in the contest as Minyip-Murtoa took control of general play in the second half.
The Burras looked to have all the answers in the fourth stanza as they opened up what seemed to be a match-winning lead.
But the Warriors found another gear, levelling the scores after 25 minutes of the final term.
When James Delahunty sent through a minor score from beyond the arc, Stawell had stolen a one-point lead, and when Burra John Delahunty was penalised for holding the ball in defence, the ensuing major was the final event of the afternoon.
The victory turned the tables on a thrilling result between the two clubs in round five, when the Burras used a last-gasp goal to steal a three-point win.
Saturday’s triumph keeps the Warriors fifth on the ladder, percentage clear of Dimboola, who beat Ararat at the weekend.
Minyip-Murtoa has now lost two games on the bounce and needs to turn its fortunes around in the run home to finals.
Stawell coach Brad Thomas said his side was starting to understand the game-style he was putting in place.
He hoped a potential finals berth would provide an important experience for the players.
“We're not changing anything we're doing, we're just starting to believe in our structures and the players and starting to understand those things,” he said.
“I want them to have one finals taste this year. if we make the finals we can build on it from there.
“We're in the top five now and my plan is that we're not getting out of it for a long long time.”
Minyip-Murtoa coach Jaye Macumber was disappointed in his decision to try to slow the tempo and save the result in the final term, but gave credit to the Warriors’ performance.
“It’s a great lesson to learn and I should be better than that,” he said.
“Going into finals we need to reassess and refocus.
“Full credit to them. There was a chance for a finals spot and they treated this game like a final and they thoroughly deserved to win.”
