The Kelly Tigers moved two games clear of the Bulldogs in race for the prized position.

Co-coach Nigel Robinson was happy with the way his team had gone about the game.

“I was really pleased, not with the score, but more in things like our tackle count,” he said.

“There’s been a bit of talk and writing that Glenrowan doesn’t like wet conditions.

“But our stats have been the highest they’ve been all year and that’s coming at the right time of year, which is really pleasing for me.

“We just have to keep building on Saturday and take that into the finals — there’s a lot of excitement around the club.”

The Kelly Tigers put the pressure on the Bulldogs early, keeping them to just one goal in each of the first two quarters.

“Our blokes stuck to our game plan early,” Robinson said.

“We went out there with a defensive mindset — it was about trying to win the contested ball, getting our tackle count up and winning the stoppages, and we put the pressure on with our zoning.

“We stuck to our plan, got that early break and it rolled on from there.”

Glenrowan was relentless with its pressure for the whole four quarters.

“Our goal every game is our defence — get that right and your attack comes,” Robinson said.

And it showed.

The Kelly Tigers’ charge was led by their strong half-back line of Luke Fox, Rory Cunningham and Max Scott.

Captain Lachlan Cohen was also telling, keeping the prolific Hamish Moore to just two goals.

“I reckon if you look back through the whole year he (Cohen) gets the job on the big boys every weekend,” Robinson said.

“And you’d find his results on key forwards are unbelievable.

“If you play on him you’re going to have a tough day.”

The Kelly Tigers silenced the critics and proved themselves a force to be reckoned with, whatever the conditions.

“We’re at the right end of the year to be getting our structures right and all the boys back playing together,” Robinson said.