The Pigeons had to come from eight goals down at three-quarter-time to pip the plucky Panthers 44-43 in what looms as a grand final preview.

Yarrawonga has been red-hot favourites for the flag all season but the Panthers showed they are more than capable of taking it up to the competition powerhouse.

Skye Hillier shot 22 goals at 100 per cent for the Panthers while Emily Browne’s performance in the midcourt was another key factor in their hot start to the match.

Lavington shot out of the blocks to lead by seven goals at the opening change, a lead they maintained for much of the match.

But, the Pigeons are undefeated for a reason and the class of Sarah and Laura Davis and Jackie Flanagan was on show in a 14-goal-to-five last quarter.

Yarrawonga co-coach Laura Bourke said the Pigeons had the utmost respect for the Panthers and are all-too-aware the flag isn’t a one-horse race.

“There’s a lot of expectation, people just think ‘you’ve got a great side, it’s not going to be as challenging’ but Lavi have a great side too and they’ve been together for a while now as well,” she said.

“It was a good contest going into finals and it was good for us to know we can come from that far down if we find ourselves in that situation again.

“Our girls are really experienced and we just had a real never-say-die attitude … we were really patient and just kept chipping away.

“It was a great warm-up for finals just to see where we’re at and where Lavi are at, because we haven’t seen them for a while.

“Their goal circle has really improved, they’re playing really well together.”

In other matches, Wangaratta maintained its position in the top three with a 16-goal victory over Corowa-Rutherglen, North Albury kept the pressure on the Magpies with a 24-goal belting of Wodonga, Wangaratta Rovers had few worries in accounting for Albury and Wodonga Raiders were too good for Myrtleford.