Wangaratta Rovers defeat Wodonga Raiders by 17 points in O and M

The Hawks led by 16 points with just over five minutes left when they started a movement around Raiders' attacking 50m arc.

The ball swept through a host of players and covered more than 120m when Sam Allen snapped an unlikely banana goal from the boundary in posting an 11.11 (77) to 9.6 (60) win.

"It was probably a bit of a fluke, although I was trying to put it through," he revealed.

"When I got the ball two or three plays earlier, I thought, 'I'm in trouble', but I just managed to get it out the back and then get that final touch, it could have ended badly (laughs)."

Raiders had launched two earlier comebacks.

"That's why he's in the side, he's an absolute elite kick and we want the ball in his hands as much as we can," co-coach Daryn Cresswell offered.

Rovers were favourites and never looked like losing, grabbing the game's biggest lead of 37 points at the 10-minute mark of the third quarter, but couldn't shake their younger opponents until Allen's piece of magic.

"That side that Rovers dished out was probably the best side they've played all year and very close to the one they beat Wangaratta with and we were with them all day, but giving a start away in every quarter is, ultimately, hurting us," Raiders' mentor Jarrod Hodgkin suggested.

Rovers opened a 20-point break early in the second term before youngster Declan Everett nailed two goals in a minute.

Everett's first was 45m out and 10m from the boundary and the next one was even better, drilling a banana from 30m on a similar angle.

However, with just two seconds left the best player in the first half Matt Jones snapped truly for a two-goal break.

After the lead blew out, Raiders kicked three, but Rovers had done enough, although they were inaccurate in the final quarter.

Ex-Melbourne player Jones had 21 touches to half-time, but an Achilles injury slowed his progress, Raven Jolliffe was terrific with three goals, while Alex Marklew also nabbed three.

A shoulder injury restricted Tyler Roos' impact, while defenders Cody Schutt, Will Nolan and Hartwig were superb.

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Everett stood out, while Scott Meyer and Connor Newnham booted three apiece.

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