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That's the message Wagga Tigers sent to the rest of the Riverina League after they sent Ganmain-Grong Grong-Matong crashing back to earth with a deserved 12.12 (84) to 10.9 (69) victory at Robertson Oval on Saturday.
Just a week after grabbing top spot on the ladder after ending Mangoplah-Cookardinia United-Eastlakes' unbeaten run, the Lions gave it straight back after they were outplayed in every department by a Tigers side growing in confidence.
The hosts' forward line was dominant with Brendan Myers booting five goals and Jock Cornell four, while Brady Morton also was strong as the Tigers' superb delivery inside 50 put the usually stoic Lions defence under pressure.
The Tigers squandered many chances late in the third quarter to seal victory and a late Lions goal to Tom Anderson, who finished with four, kept them within striking distance 16 points down.
GGGM kicked four goals in the opening ten minutes of the last quarter, but a Lions win would have been grand larceny of the highest order. The Tigers responded brilliantly to kick the last three goals, and surge to third spot on the table on percentage ahead of Collingullie-Glenfield Park.
Myers stood up when it counted late, nailing a superb snapped goal from 40 metres out to give the Tigers the lead again, before nailing a set shot on an angle from just inside 50 not long afterward.
The Tigers' young defence held up well for most of the day, while their midfield outplayed the Lions at their own game in the pressure stakes and at stoppages.
A late injury to ruckman Tom Osmotherly, who came off late with a dislocated shoulder, is a big concern to the Tigers given he has had two shoulder operations in the past. Shaun Flanigan was also icing a rolled ankle he suffered late in the match.
"One thing I'll never doubt about this group is the character and the pride they've got in themselves," Tigers coach Murray Stephenson said.
"When Ganmain pinched the lead there was definitely a sense out there on the field we were still confident, but we had to get back to what was working and dig in.
"It's just a bit of confirmation what we're doing is right. We're working hard and the best thing is we're playing for each other.
"Brendy (Myers) is doing a lot of the grunt work for us, and although he's only young he's a real leader of the football side.
"Jock maybe had a slow start to the year but he's now playing the footy we know he's capable of, he showed his class."
IN OTHER NEWS
Lions coach Sam Martyn, who missed the match with a quad injury he expects to keep him out for a month, said they were made to look second rate at times by the Tigers.
"We gave ourselves a fighting chance in the last (quarter) and probably didn't deserve to be in that position," he said.
Credit to the Tigers, they played a great brand of footy. We pride ourselves on our pressure and ability to win the footy, but they made us look second rate today.
"It's a reality check after last weekend, we were sky high and happy with the result, but this brings us back to earth pretty quickly.
"It would have taken a very good defender to stop some of the forward 50 entries they had today, they had a lot of clean looks."
Wagga Tigers 4.4 7.5 8.11 12.12 (84) def GGGM 2.1 5.3 6.7 10.9 (69)
Goals: Wagga Tigers - Brendan Myers 5, Jock Cornell 4, Reid Gordon 2, Will Keogh; GGGM Lions - Thomas Anderson 4, Jonathon Neville 3, Jesse Lander 2, Matthew Hamblin
Best: Wagga Tigers :
Jock Cornell, Brady Morton, Shaun Flanigan, Reid Gordon, Lewis Waters, Hamish Gilmore; GGGM Lions :
Ben Walsh, Thomas Anderson, Thomas Sase, Matthew Hamblin, Jonathon Neville, Jacob Olsson
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