Clearly fed-up Pies' captain Michael Newton spoke candidly of the back-hamstring complaints which had ruled him out for five weeks, leading into Saturday's return against Lavington.

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"I don't know what's going on, I don't know," he said seconds after the siren in the cracking 20-point win.

"It's frustrating, that's all I'll say, it's very frustrating."

Newton was replaced late after his two-goal return.

"I could have kept playing, but I'm sore," he admitted.

The 32-year-old is yet to complete a game since April.

He tore his right pectoral muscle against Lavington on May 4 and missed seven weeks.

The ex-AFL player returned against Wodonga Raiders on June 22, but only played half a game after injuring his hamstring.

He was named for last week's game against Albury, but withdrew with a back complaint.

Adding to Newton's frustration was a series of free kicks against him.

He and opponent Brant Dickson had a series of wrestles as the ball was heading towards them.

Newton finished with two goals, including a strong mark and conversion from a tight angle early in the final term with the result in the balance.

Quite remarkably, despite the impressive win over the competition leaders, the grand finalists fell out of the top three to Albury, on percentage.

The Pies now host Myrtleford, which would fall from second, on percentage, to fourth with a loss.

"I keep saying to the boys we've got to enjoy these challenges, the position that we've come from, this is what you play for," coach Jake Sharp said.

Myrtleford has played finals once since 2006.

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