WODONGA Raiders coach Daryn Cresswell said his side “deserved a change of luck” after securing a finals berth with an eight-point win over North Albury at Bunton Park.
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Just a week after slipping out of the top-five with an after-the-siren one-point loss to Myrtleford, the Raiders withstood a fierce Hoppers challenge to win 11.10 (76) to 10.8 (68) and book their place in the post-season.
The Raiders led by 32 points at quarter-time but the Hoppers drew level 20 seconds into the final term and had all the momentum with Dan Leslie and Ben Fulford dominating.
But Cresswell sent Jack Di Mizio and Dean Heta, who had kicked three goals, into defence and Jydon Neagle (four goals) stood tall as the Raiders clinched their ninth win of the season to finish percentage ahead of fifth-placed Wodonga.
“We deserved a change of luck,” Cresswell said.
“It’s really pleasing to play finals again because that’s what I rate as a success.
“It would’ve been disappointing to play two finals last year and not play finals this year so it gives us a real launching pad moving forward.
“We haven’t been able to get any continuity with our side so it’s really pleasing for the young blokes to get some reward.
“We showed a lot of fight in the last quarter and it was pleasing that Wodonga did us a favour, too.
“North Albury had all the momentum and it would’ve been easy to roll over but the boys really dug deep.”