Those were the words Wagga Tigers coach Troy Maiden delivered to his troops after a third quarter strangle job on Leeton-Whitton proved enough to secure an AFL Riverina Championship grand final spot with an 11.13 (79) to 11.10 (76) win in Saturday's second semi final at Robertson Oval.

The Crows led by as many as 21 points in a free-flowing first half, but a couple of goals allowed the Tigers to get within 12 points of the minor premiers at the main break.

But it was the third quarter where the Tigers got the job done, keeping the Crows scoreless and nailing two goals of their own as they found the running game and intensity that has been the hallmark of their season.

Jesse Manton and Shaun Campbell both scored goals off classy snapped finishes early in the quarter to give last year's Riverina League champions momentum.

The Tigers led by three goals midway through the last quarter, but a lack of composure coming out of their half let Leeton-Whitton back into the game.

A goal off a 50m penalty from the league's leading goal-scorer Cooper Sharman got the Crows within three points, but their rally fell just short.

Maiden was pleased with the lockdown job in the third quarter, but said they need to learn the lessons from their inability to play the percentages late in the contest.

The Tigers were braver in the second half, backing their skills to hit targets through the middle and their running game did the rest.

"The third quarter was clearly out best quarter of the day where our ball movement was a bit better and our pressure was up," he said.

We've just got to have that belief we're never out of the game no matter the situation. The boys didn't drop their heads (when we were down early), we kept trying things.

Sometimes you have to take some risks and hope they come off, thankfully today a few of them did and it was good reward for the players.

"It's been a short season but they've put in a lot of effort, but the job isn't done yet."

Leeton-Whitton coach Daniel Muir said his team was given a free lesson in how to play hard football after the main break.

"The first 20 minutes after half-time killed us," he said.

"They came out more hungry and showed us how to play contested footy, it was the difference in the end.

"They showed they're a quality footy side with match winners on every line. We have to stick it out for full quarters.

"We didn't put them away and they were pretty impressive in that third quarter."

Luke Gestier provided a contest for the Tigers up forward all day while Lahn Shepherd was heavily influential.

WAGGA TIGERS 3.2 6.6 8.10 11.13 (79) def LEETON-WHITTON 5.5 8.6 8.6 11.10 (76)

GOALS: Tigers - Jesse Manton 2, Shaun Campbell 2, Nathan Cooke, Brayden O'Hara, Brendan Myers, Corey Mccarthy, John Buchanan, James Grills, Shaun Flanigan; Leeton-Whitton - Cooper Sharman 2, Jade Hodge 2, Mitchell Hardie 2, Jeromy Lucas 2, Bailey Wood, Bryce O'Garey

BEST: Tigers - Lahn Shepherd, Brendan Myers, Charles Bance, Shaun Driscoll, Shaun Flanigan, Luke Gestier; Leeton-Whitton - Lucas Meline, Jeromy Lucas, Cooper Sharman, Ryan Grey, Jake Wood, Mason Dryburgh

OTHER GRADES

RESERVE GRADE : WAGGA TIGERS 4.1 7.1 11.1 12.5 (77) def MCUE 3.2 4.5 6.8 9.10 (64)

UNDER 17.5S: Leeton Whitton 1.4 2.6 3.8 7.11 (53) def Osborne 1.1 2.4 3.5 7.7 (49)

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