The Hoppers got the better of a seesawing final quarter to move within two points of the top five, winning 18.4 (112) to 16.10 (106) at Kindra Park.

Tigers led by as much as 14 points early in the final quarter but the Hoppers lifted to boot eight final term goals to cause an upset in front of a big home crowd.

The lead changed seven times in an entertaining final quarter that produced 14 goals.

Tiwi Island duo Jack Munkara and Roy Kantilla combined for five of those goals as the Hoppers forwards capitalised on their midfield ascendancy.

Coolamon coach Matt Hard declared the Hoppers’ season alive after the big win.

“It keeps it alive,” Hard said.

“With Tigers being a couple of points ahead of us, our destiny is not in our own hands and all we can do now...is keep winning.

“If they slip up, we’re sitting right behind them and we’re going to be putting pressure on them.”

Tigers controlled the second term, kicking five unanswered goals at one stage to open up a 16-point lead. To wrestle the momentum back in their favour and come away with the win, Hard was full of praise for his men.

“That’s by far our best performance of the year,” he said.

“I couldn’t be happier for the boys. They fought and they fought. We had to rotate around, we had a lot of sore bodies out there but they just kept going and found a way to get over the line.

“With our season being on the line, we thought if we could be close enough at three quarter time, then we knew that hopefully that little bit of will might get us over the line, and lucky for us today it did.”

Munkara played his best game for the club, finishing with five goals from a half forward flank, but the star of the win was Joe Redfern.

Redfern was sensational at centre-half-forward and inspired the comeback with a big second half. He also finished with five goals.

Jamie Maddox led from the front. He went head to head with Wagga Tigers coach Shaun Campbell and produced a big final quarter to help lift the Hoppers over the line.

Ben Edyvean dominated in the ruck, while Matt McGowan enjoyed one of his best games.

The Hoppers did it without Ben Fixter, who injured his ankle in the opening minute of the game.

Jake Gaynor was a standout for Tigers, running amok through the midfield, while John Buchanan snagged five goals.

The Hoppers need to win one more game than Tigers over the final month to steal fifth place.

Coolamon have Narrandera, Turvey Park, Leeton-Whitton and GGGM while Tigers finish with Griffith, GGGM, Turvey Park and Collingullie-GP.