OSBORNE coach Matt Rava knew the Tigers had to roll to dice at half-time to win Saturday's preliminary final against Culcairn at Walbundrie.
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Trailing by 36 points and being completely outmuscled by the Lions, Rava made several positional moves including throwing his assistant-coach Sam Livingstone into the centre.
The former Wodonga player responded with a best-on-ground showing as Osborne kicked a staggering 8.10 to 0.4 to run-out 18-point victors.
"He really stood up," Rava said.
"I said I needed a bull in the middle to win the footy and he really took it by the scruff of the neck.
"He's been super for me coming in as assistant-coach."
Osborne hit the lead for the first time at the 16-minute-mark of the final quarter when Rava kicked a point and fittingly it was Livingstone who followed 90 seconds later to put the Tigers seven points ahead.
Connor Galvin and Sam Stening sealed a famous victory with goals in the dying minutes.
Galvin was again outstanding with five goals while 16-year-old Stening showed his class with two majors and a handful of telling possessions.
Rava was at a loss to explain the comeback.
"It was very unexpected," Rava said.
"I thought our run and carry and spread could open them up but to their credit their pressure was amazing early.
"They had us on the back foot but it was super pleasing to run the game out like that.
"We know we have the fitness in us and hopefully we can finish like that again next week."
Jacob McDonnell looks set to miss the grand final after having his hamstring iced at three-quarter-time while big Kodie O'Malley hurt his knee early but managed to play out the game.
Culcairn's hopes of restoring order late were hampered by Jye Shields struggling with a back injury and eventually being forced from the ground.
"He had a sore back and a bit of everything," coach Josh Hillary said.
"It caught up with him.
"He lays it all on the line, he's a warrior."
Dane Hallinan, Jesse Sutherland, Caleb Simmonds and Max Grintell were strong performers for Culcairn in the first-half.
Grintell gave the Lions all the momentum when he kicked his third goal after the half-time siren, but amazingly it was their final goal of the match.
Adam Prior kicked two goals opposed to Tiger veteran Hayden Gleeson.
Brock-Burrum trained at Brocklesby on Saturday morning.