The Roos and Saints headed into the crunch clash with only one win each after both were touted as finals contenders at the start of the season.

As expected, the outcome went to the wire with the Roos withstanding a late surge from the undermanned Saints, who had only one fit player on the bench from half-time.

The Saints were superior early and their pressure was reflected with a tackle count of 18 in the first term that helped them to a 13-point lead.

Myrtleford’s biggest lead was 16 points when a floater from one of the Saints’ best players, Nathan Cossignani, landed in the lap of youngster Lachlan Dale at the top of square.

But concerns appeared in the second quarter when veteran forward Jarrad Hayse limped from the ground with a hamstring injury and youngster Dylan Piazza was concussed.

The Roos pegged the margin back to seven points on half-time when Damien Wilson kicked truly on the run.

And the pendulum swung to the Roos’ in the third quarter, due to the brilliance of James Brain.

After being subdued by Mitch Dalbosco, Brain cut loose to kick three of the Roos four goals for the term.

The highlight of his superb cameo was intercepting an opposition handball and drilling the goal from 40 metres around his body.

The Roos also got excellent service from Sam Carpenter, Luke Prescott and Wilson around the packs and Kade Kuschert in defence.

Regular defender Hamish Leahy helped the Saints stay in touch with his first goal for the club when pushed forward in the third term.

Co-coach Brad Murray, Cossignani, Fraser Lucas and youngsters Luke Quirk and Lachlan Dale worked overtime to keep the Saints in it.

Chris Marshall made Morris medallist Kristan Height earn every touch and the game was in the balance at the last change.

Brain booted his fifth early in the of final quarter and when he had a hand in Wilson’s follow-up goal, the Roos held a game-high 15 point lead.

Despite limited resources on the bench, the Saints surged late, but missed a string of chances from the boots of Height, Willie Thorne, John Simpson and Cossignani.

But Thorne, who had been rarely sighted in middle stages of game, atoned with a late goal.

The margin was six points when Murray grabbed the ball 55 metres out from goal soon after but But Cossignani couldn’t hang onto a tough mark within range which would have given him a chance to level the scores.

The the win lifted the Roos to within four points and percentage of the top five.

Roos coach Bryce Campbell was a relieved man after his team squandered a match-winning position last round.

“I thought we started really flat, but the good thing was we addressed it and rectified it in the last three quarters,” he said.

“Our next three games are ones we are looking to win.”

Saints co-coach Leigh Corcoran began the day playing in the reserves first win of the season.

“We felt we had most of the footy,” he said.

“Not capitalising on our chances has really hurt us.

“With just one player on the bench, it hurt the structure of the side.

“We’ve got to freshen up and hopefully deliver against Wodonga.”