Last season's wooden spooners trailed favourites Yarrawonga by 17 points at three-quarter time and had no bench.

Yet, the young group, somehow, found a way to kick four goals to none to post an 8.11 (59) to 7.10 (52) upset.

A win like that can be the catalyst for changing a club's future.

"We got told we were probably going to have no rotations in the last quarter, so just go as hard as we can," one of the oldest players Tom Johnson said.

"It's definitely one of them (best wins in my time here).

"For the young group to stand up, with nobody left on the bench, it's definitely one of the ones we'll remember."

Rising youngster Ethan Redcliffe kicked the match-winning goal as the home crowd celebrated.

"It was a lot like we'd won a premiership, the feel around the club, the supporters, just all the older people around the club that played for Wodonga were so happy, it was great to see," Johnson enthused.

The Bulldogs had three players with niggling injuries, unable to return, including first-year coach Jordan Taylor.

It meant two forwards, including Johnson, had to go back to defence, but the former O and M representative forward said tactics had little to do with the comeback.

"I reckon it was just determination, we thought we'd done enough work over the pre-season, we could push teams to the limit," he revealed.

Redcliffe finished with four goals, an outstanding effort in a low-scoring match.

"Ethan battled hard for his goals in the last quarter, getting the ball to boot nicely, while Zac Brain kicked one from the boundary, it had a nice bounce for us, but when things are going your way, you have to make the most of it," Johnson added.

Redcliffe and Brain were terrific, young Harry Pole did well against former VFL ruckman Lach Howe, while current VFL player Josh Clayton was again superb.

The Bulldogs are now away to Albury, which hammered another emerging outfit in Corowa-Rutherglen by 85 points on Saturday.

For Yarrawonga, it was a gut-wrenching loss.

The Pigeons had recruited well over the last 18 months, but their finals hopes are done after three losses.

ALSO IN SPORT:

Coach Mark Whiley was again the pick of the Pigeons.

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: