The pair has now set the standard for the others to match with the Hawks posting an upset 14.12 (96) to 12.10 (82) win at home in front of the league's biggest home and away crowd in years of 3400.

"We work on our ball movement a lot, but it's always tricky, sometimes it won't come off, we believe in how we want to move it and shift the opposition," Rovers' co-coach Daryn Cresswell explained outside a still pumping dressing room.

In his six years in the league, including four at Wodonga Raiders, Cresswell has always wanted his players to take the game on and nobody lives that philosophy more than the exciting Jack Gerrish.

With a three-point lead and only four minutes left of a pulsating contest, the excitement machine was cornered by three players on the wing.

He looked likely to lose the ball, but had the composure and pace to weave out of trouble, before sending a 45m kick to an unmarked Jamason Daniels, who didn't have an opponent within 25m for an easy goal.

Another high-profile player in Matt Jones then snapped the final major with just under two minutes left.

Both teams were inaccurate early, highlighting the nerves and constant defensive pressure.

Wangaratta landed 3.5 to the Hawks' 1.5, but then the home team produced the best 20-minute patch the O and M has witnessed in years.

When Pie Daine Porter swooped and landed a superb goal at the two-minute mark of the second term, the visitors were up by 19 points.

However, the Hawks kicked the next five goals of the quarter.

Co-coach Daniels roved the pack superbly for the first and the underrated Jayden Bear streaked away from Daniel Sharrock after a Pies' turnover.

Former AFL big man Callum Moore produced the only moment to slow the fast-running Hawks, soaring above a pack.

Rovers carried a 14-point break into the second half, with the teams landing nine goals in a blinding third term.

The Pies regained the lead with eight minutes left through Josh Porter, but a courageous mark by defender Cody Schutt stole it back.

The Hawks' defence, including Tyson Hartwig and Tristan Lenaz, were excellent, while Ryan Hebron and Tyler Cornish were superb.

Moore was wonderful and he will play more up forward with Michael Newton rested in the second half with back tightness, while Ben Reid rolled an ankle.

ALSO IN SPORT:

"Our defence was poor in all areas of the ground," coach Dean Stone offered.

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: