OSBORNE sprung a surprise in round one, but Wagga Tigers ensured there would be no repeat after taking care of a wounded Ostriches in the last round of the AFL Riverina Championships on Saturday to secure a top two spot.
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With Connor Willis (hamstring), Matt Rava (hamstring) and Zach Bye (elbow) sidelined by midway through the third term, the Tigers' run got them on top late with four unanswered goals in the last term.
The Tigers will now take on Leeton-Whitton for a grand final spot next week in a mouth-watering contest between two attacking sides.
Wagga led by two goals at the main break, and kicked six goals to one afterwards to secure the double chance.
Midfielders Shaun Driscoll and Shaun Campbell were outstanding for the Tigers, with Hamish Gilmore also playing strongly on dangerous Osborne forward Kodie O'Malley.
Osborne is the only side to beat the Tigers this year, with Wagga stringing together five straight wins since to enter next week's clash with the Crows in strong shape.
"We spoke a bit about the way they played last time and they played like that today, but clearly our preparation was better for this game now we've had a few under our belt," Tigers coach Troy Maiden said.
"It's good to see the sun shining and a harder deck to get a chance to fine-tune some things we're working on.
"Our half-backs were really good for us and we've got an experienced crew group around that area of the game and have got some good ball users and decision makers, they're really important to us.
"I'm not looking for stars, I just want 21 blokes playing their role."
The Tigers beat Leeton-Whitton by 29 points in round three, but Maiden said the wet conditions and the fact the Crows had several players out meant little could be derived from the contest.
"They've got a really good midfield crew, a half-back line that rebounds pretty well and some damaging forwards, Cooper Sharman is obviously a talent," he said.
Osborne coach Joel Mackie said he would take ownership for a couple of personal errors which cost the costs.
He was yellow carded after looking to diffuse a tussle between the two teams early in the second quarter, and gave away a crucial 50-metre penalty right on half-time which led to a Tigers goal.
"Little things like that hurt the team and I take full responsibility for it.
"In the end their run got us. We were right in the game (at half-time), we just had no bench about halfway through the third.
"It's been great for us to get some footy away, and opening the door to players from other clubs not competing to come in as well."
Wagga Tigers 3.2 8.3 10.6 14.9 (93) def Osborne 3.2, 6.3, 7.7, 7.8 (50)
GOALS: Wagga Tigers - Brocke Argus 2, James Grills 2, Jesse Manton, Shaun Driscoll, Shaun Flanigan, Shaun Campbell, John Buchanan, Brendan Myers, Reid Gordon, Brayden O'Hara, Bradley Graham, Luke Gestier; Osborne - Connor Galvin 2, Matthew Rava, Joel Mackie, Kodie O'Malley, Nicholas Perryman, Elliott Powell.
BEST: Wagga Tigers - Shaun Driscoll, Shaun Campbell, Bradley Graham, Jake Gaynor, Brendan Myers, Hamish Gilmore; Osborne - Izaac McDonnell, Edward Perryman, Elliott Powell, Duncan McMaster, Michael Driscoll, Jack Driscoll.
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