The Raiders will now meet injury-hit Yarrawonga in the first semi-final and Daryn Cresswell’s charges will fancy their chances of making it past the Pigeons after Jydon Neagle (five goals) and Steve Jolliffe inspired a famous victory on Sunday.

After leading by 26 points in the second quarter, the Raiders survived a fierce Saints challenge after half-time to win the elimination final 13.12 (90) to 12.6 (78).

The Saints’ second-half surge, inspired by co-coach Brad Murray, sparked memories of the round 17 clash between the teams when they hauled in a seven-goal deficit to sink the Raiders by a point after the siren.

Playing in their first finals series since 2006, the Saints had the crowd on their side and had all the momentum when they closed the margin to six points at the final change.

But, unlike two weeks ago, the Raiders stood tall as the Heta brothers, Dean and Hayden, dominated in the air to register the club’s first post-season win since it downed Wangaratta in the 2011 elimination final.

Cresswell paid tribute to his team, which only made the finals on percentage, after the match.

“When you consider the heartache we’ve been through this year, we’ve lost our best player (in Todd Grayson) and then we’ve lost ‘Rocco’ (Ross Tungatalum) as well,” he said.

“On top of that, we’ve had significant injuries but our young blokes have really stood up, which is pleasing.

“We had 11 blokes out there today that are 21 or younger and you’ve got to give credit to the players, they’ve really dug deep and I’m really proud of them.

“Our best is very good and most opposition clubs would identify that.”

The Raiders could welcome back Matt McDonald, who was a late withdrawal from the elimination final with bruised ribs, and Todd Bryant from work commitments for the clash against Yarrawonga. Pigeons co-coach Chris Kennedy was an interested onlooker on Sunday and he would have been impressed with the Raiders’ ability to run and spread while locking the ball in their front half.

A year after bowing out of September in straight sets, the Raiders are a genuine chance of making the preliminary final with the Pigeons left reeling by a host of injuries to key players on the back of an 11-goal hiding from Lavington on Saturday.

“It wasn’t too dissimilar to what happened to us in the qualifying final last year, Lavington did a bit of a job on us as well,” he said.

“I’ve got great admiration for Yarrawonga and their players, they’re a tough side and they’ll bounce back because they have great character.”