Lavington's Luke Garland kicked the match-winning goal with 18 seconds left against Myrtleford in one of the games of the season on Saturday.
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Finals came a fortnight early as the teams staged a ding-dong battle with the visitors sealing the minor premiership in a riveting 13.13 (91) to 12.11 (83) win.
Garland and Aidan Johnson formed a potent combination with four goals apiece, while Saints' Tom Ellard and Lachie Dale landed three.
The lead changed six times and the teams were twice level after the Saints grabbed the biggest break - 19 points - late in the second term.
"It did feel like a finals type game, it was high quality and it was really intense," Lavington coach Simon Curtis said.
Myrtleford rocked the visitors, kicking two goals in the first six minutes.
But the Panthers steadied with the next four, taking a one-point lead to the break.
However, a typical Ellard snap on his left foot regained the lead in the first minute.
It was a battle of the coaches in the first half with Saints' Jake Sharp best on ground to half-time, while Curtis was also superb.
Curtis had six touches in the first seven minutes, setting up a Garland goal when he received a 50m free kick after Brady Sharp crouched over the mark.
The match was played at a frenetic pace and when the elusive Dale - who has the freakish ability to jump to his feet like a cat when bowled over - produced a second effort for Ellard, the Saints were out by more than three goals.
However, the Panthers won the ball from the centre, Nick Holman's kick finding Shaun Mannagh, who blasted away for a two-goal half-time deficit.
Garland goaled after another 50m, but Dale restored the gap to two majors with unselfish play, kicking the ball infield to Ryley Sharp when pinned on the boundary line.
That was the biggest margin for the rest of the match.
When Jarryd Wallace cleverly roved the pack at the six-minute mark of the final stanza, the Saints were up by seven points.
However, a free kick to Johnson reduced the margin to two, but another trademark Ellard moment pushed it back to eight.
An outstanding pack mark by Johnson levelled the scores with just under five minutes left, before Garland's late match-winner.
Garland was terrific, worrying the gritty Nathan Laracy.
Curtis was all class with 28 touches, while Mannagh (23 disposals) and Tom Hargreave (22) had big last quarters with seven and eight respectively.
Defender Nick Meredith (19) was another to shine, while Johnson provided that powerhouse forward.
Jake Sharp was tremendous with 26 possessions and he's a lot like Curtis in that the pair remain so calm in tense situations.
Dale was his electric self, while Matt Dussin and Laracy produced some typically inspirational moments.
Myrtleford's brave bid for the top three has fallen short, while it will be sweating on an ankle injury to ruckman Tom McDonagh.