RAND-Walbundrie-Walla produced their best performance of the season to shock reigning premier Osborne by 29 points at Osborne on Saturday.
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With their season on the line, the Giants kicked six unanswered goals in the final quarter to move within two premiership points of sixth-placed Culcairn with three rounds remaining.
They play Jindera, Culcairn and Henty in the run home while Culcairn meet Henty, the Giants and Murray Magpies.
Coach Myles Aalbers was delighted with the way his side hit back after three successive losses.
“It was a super effort by the boys,” Aalbers said.
“If we bring our best footy to the table, it stacks up against the best sides in the competition.
“Osborne’s a fantastic side and that last quarter will give us a lot of confidence.
“We only made two changes this week and we haven’t been able to do that for a long time.”
Giants midfielder Sam Hargreave was outstanding in his best match for the club with Justin Gordon and Chris Duck lending support.
Myles Aalbers, Todd Miller and Brendan Simmons played well in attack.
The final quarter blitz was the complete opposite to last year when Osborne trailed by two points at three quarter-time before kicking 9.3 to 0.2 to win by 55 points.
Osborne, who recently lost full-back Michael Driscoll with a serious hand injury, looked like blowing the game apart when talented forward Connor Galvin exploded in the second term.
He kicked three goals in 10 minutes and went on to be the Cats’ best player with six majors.
Matt Rava and Duncan McMaster were also solid.
Holbrook climbed to fourth spot on the ladder by crushing Howlong by 88 points at Holbrook.
After a sluggish start, the Brookers kicked 17 of the last 20 goals with spearhead Andrew Mackinlay bagging 9.1 in a vintage display.
Curtis Steele, Coby Ross and Lachie Trethowan also impressed for the victors.
Howlong lost star midfielder Steve Jolliffe early through injury and Matt Lee and Peter Hancock were powerless to stop the onslaught.
CDHBU returned to the winning list by defeating Lockhart by 23 points with Tim Cooper, Kade Rowe and Brad Talbot in good touch.
An in-form Brock-Burrum destroyed Murray Magpies by 184 points in the biggest win of the season.
