Saturday’s disappointing 71-point loss to Yarrawonga at a rain-soaked Norm Minns Oval ended the club’s Ovens and Murray finals chances for 2015.

The Magpies have three games left but are seventh on the ladder, three wins behind fifth-placed North Albury, which has a game in hand.

What was most disappointing for Cairns on Saturday was his side’s inability to stop the Pigeons booting eight goals to one after halftime in what were difficult conditions to score.

Kayne Pettifer was the chief antagonist with seven majors.

“When the game is going away from us, when teams get a run on, we need some leadership on the ground,” Cairns said.

“That’s a big area we will be focusing on (next season).

“The finals were probably unlikely before the game.

“We had a chance to get in a position to play finals when we played North Albury and Raiders.

“That probably ruled us out then.”

Wangaratta has shown some promise in the second half of the season, but heavy losses to Albury, Lavington and now Yarrawonga have wrecked much of the good work.

Losing key forward Joel Harris to a season-ending knee injury hasn’t helped, either.

The Magpies were the walking wounded on Saturday, losing Judd Porter, Jessie Smith and Jamie Anderson to injury before the end of the game.

Yarrawonga restricted the Magpies to just three goals and Cairns said the Pigeons were prepared to get down and dirty in the muddy conditions.

“Yarrawonga wanted the footy and we didn’t,” he said.

“That was the difference in the game, particularly the second half.

“It was played in terrible conditions.

“The first half I thought we competed OK.

“Yarrawonga wanted to win more than we did and it showed in the second half of the game.”

The Magpies were dealt a big blow pre-game, with marquee forward Matt Westhoff a late withdrawal because of a back complaint.

With the bye this week, Westhoff is likely to return for the club’s next game, which is away to Corowa-Rutherglen on Saturday, August the 15^th.

With winnable games against the Roos, Wodonga and Myrtleford to come, there’s still time for the Magpies to finish the season on a positive note.

Yarrawonga’s win over the Pies pushed it above Wodonga Raiders and into third spot on the ladder, equal on 36 points.

The Raiders can reclaim their spot in the top three if they beat, or draw, with Lavington this week.

The fight for third spot – and the double chance that comes with it – will go down to the wire, with Yarrawonga, Raiders and North Albury all capable of pinching it.

But, only time will tell.