Trailing Lavington by almost five goals early in the third quarter, Wangaratta charged back into contention with a stunning fightback.

Even at the 17-minute mark of the final quarter the Panthers still held an eight-point lead.

But two behinds, the second hitting the post, put the Magpies within one straight kick.

Sharrock marked inside the 50 metres and on his approach the siren sounded, the ball sailing between the uprights to send the game into five minutes each way of extra time.

Both sides kicked two straight to go into the final five minutes at 70-all.

But Wangaratta struck first and held off the Panthers on the siren to win 11.11 (77) to 11.10 (76).

Coach Carl Norton, who made it two under-18 premierships in three years, praised their fighting spirit.

“To be honest the last 10 minutes were just a blur,” he said

“But at half-time we mentioned that things weren’t going our way and a few boys were dropping their head and it’s a testament to their character to come back like that.

“We have been tested a couple of times during the year and the boys had responded and today on this stage they did it again.

“In extra time it felt like we were getting on top, we were winning the ball at the stoppages, our forwards always seemed to be in front and their work rate after that amount of time was just fantastic.”

Matthew Campbell was awarded both best and fairest medals for the Pies but Norton also praised captain Matt Teasdale.

“He has been crook all week and only got out of bed for the first time in three days this morning,” he said.

Campbell said he thought they had lost.

“That was just amazing, the last 10 minutes just crazy,” he said.

“I thought we had lost because the siren went as he kicked it so when they turned us around for extra time it felt like it was ours to win from then on.”