The Tigers lost their first four games, but managed to rally to finish fifth before the final round was abandoned.

They were due to play Collingullie-Glenfield Park - who finished on the same points but with a slightly superior percentage - in the last game, which would have decided fourth spot.

Tilyard, unlikely to be at the Tigers this year due to working out of town, said she understood AFL Riverina's rationale to streamline the finals series, but the team is disappointed their hard work to salvage their season won't be rewarded.

"Had we played that last game it would have decided who finished fourth so that was kind of annoying, but that's how it goes sometimes," she said.

"We were finally starting to get a roll on and we felt like we had a lot more to show before the season was over. But we didn't start at our best, and that determined where we finished.

"You can't really have a long final because you might get two weeks in and everything fires up again and you gain nothing. You've got to be realistic in these times, I understand why they've done it."

The Northern Jets met the same fate as their football team in Farrer League netball, cut from the finals after also finishing fifth.

First year coach Beth New said it felt like they wrap up their campaign with some unfinished business after they were due to play Coleambally in a rematch of the last round, which finished in a draw.

"When Simon (Gaynor, Jets president) rang me with the news I was pretty disappointed, especially when we have done all the training during lockdown and were keen to see what we could do in finals. But we understand decisions have to be made," she said.

"It doesn't feel like the season's finished. We played that last game at Coleambally and were making plans to play them again in finals

"I think we had some momentum going. The first time we played Coly we lost, and then at Coly last weekend we led most of the way before it was a draw.

"We knew the next step for us was hopefully a win. We felt like we were improving and playing well, so it's definitely disappointing."

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