Marrar are going to have to do it the hard way if they're to chase a third straight premiership on grand final day, after losing to East Wagga-Kooringal in Saturday's qualifying final.
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The Bombers dropped their first game in two-and-a-half months when they let a 24-point lead slip against an experienced and spirited EWK.
It puts them on a do-or-die path from here on, starting with the first semi-final next Sunday.
Not since Rivcoll in 2001 have the Farrer League premiers come through the first semi-final.
But Marrar coach Shane Lenon is confident their first loss in 10 games won't derail their campaign.
"The beauty of finishing top three is you get another go next week," Lenon said.
"I don't want to take anything away from East Wagga, they were the better side. But I'm pretty positive that our group will learn a fair bit from that."
In particular, it's knowing how to stop momentum when it swings against you, as it did for Marrar when the Hawks won four straight centre clearances in the second quarter to get back on level terms, and then continued to dominate the middle.
"There was one, then two, and you've got to hold your momentum, but we couldn't," Lenon said.
"That's where the game turned, for sure, but we'll learn from today. You've got to stop the momentum dead."
Marrar missed the experience and intensity of Truman Carroll, who was a late withdrawal after battling the 'flu all week, and losing midfielder Toby Lawler to a back injury in the second quarter hurt.
"He's pretty sore and sorry but I'm hoping he's not too bad and will be right for next week," Lenon said.
He said sometimes 'you can't beat experience' and paid compliments to the Hawks' midfield - led by their star trio of Nick Hull, Chris Gordon and Ben Absolum - for their ability to rise to the challenge.
"They lifted in the second quarter and started to get the ball out of the middle," Lenon said.
"Their pressure was really strong, they tackled well, they applied a lot of pressure and probably beat us at our own game, really."
Captain Jackson Moye had a big impact early before the Hawks put plenty of attention into closing him down in the middle. Assistant coach Cal Gardner (three goals) showed his class, playing a strong hand up forward and trying to lift his side throughout.
Marrar will head to Maher Oval for their semi-final, taking on the winner of this Sunday's elimination final between Temora and Coleambally.
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