The Tigers piled on five unanswered goals in the last quarter to win 13.11 (89) to 9.6 (60) in what could be a preview of the elimination final in a fortnight.

The loss came at a cost for the Hawks with Scott Bartel and Wylie Jackson suffering soft tissue injuries and Leigh Cameron sent off and reported after a collision in the opening quarter.

Kiewa-Sandy Creek, which has been a permanent fixture in the top three since round 10, now faces the prospect of having to beat a rampant Thurgoona in the final round to avoid dropping to fourth with Rutherglen strong favourites to defeat Yackandandah.

With no more than two points separating the teams at the first three changes at Barnawartha on Saturday, Tigers coach Mitch Exton was thrilled with the way his charges finished the match.

It came after narrow losses to top five rivals Rutherglen (two points), Thurgoona (eight) and Mitta United (12) in the past six weeks.

The Tigers’ 12 wins would have been enough to secure second spot and the double chance last year but they will have to take the cut-throat path this season with five teams boasting genuine flag credentials.

The Tigers’ forward line looks particularly dangerous, especially as the weather improves, with Peter Cook (four goals), Jordan Wolff (three) and Josh Spence (three) combining superbly against the Hawks.

Matt McLinden shut down Hawks dangerman BJ Garvey and Ben Kunkel restricted key forward Guy Telford to two goals.

“It was good to run over the top of them, rather than the other way around like it’s been in the other close ones we’ve lost,” Exton said.

“Nothing changed at three-quarter-time, we just stuck to our structures because we were confident that was going to work for us.

“We know we can’t make any mistakes (when finals arrive) and it does feel like we’re hitting our straps at the right time of the year.”

Meanwhile, Lee Dale, Brenton Surrey and Tom Cartledge played key roles as Beechworth charged over the top of Tallangatta. The Bushies kicked five goals to one in the final term to prevail by six points and register their best win of the year.

Mitta United sealed the minor premiership and week off with a comfortable win over Wahgunyah. Thurgoona’s multi-pronged forward line of Jake Bruce (seven goals) and Todd Miller (six) inspired the Dogs to a 129-point hiding of Chiltern. Rutherglen and Yackandandah had few worries in downing Wodonga Saints and Dederang-Mt Beauty.