The Geelong Football League has survived the best of the Goulburn Valley, and its own inaccuracy, to remain the No.1 ranked league in the WorkSafe AFL Victoria Country Championships.
Despite kicking a remarkable 12 goals and 30 behinds in perfect conditions at Shepparton's Deakin Reserve, it was enough to shrug off the hosts and triumph in the 1v2 play-off.
Rebounding tall defender Dan Lovick was sensational in the victory and was deservedly named best on ground, while Brandon Howarth bagged three goals.
Speedsters Jason Davenport (two goals) Dane McFarlane were also instrumental as Geelong wrestled control after half time.
Goulburn Valley was well served by Sam Martyn and Hugh Robertson, but other than second quarter surge failed, to match it with the defending champions.
Geelong will face the Peninsula FL in the 1v2 battle next year after the boys from Melbourne's South East secured a famous victory over the Ovens and Murray FL in Albury.
Despite leading by 33 points early in the third term, Peninsula was forced to come from behind late in the last after the O&M put their noses in front for the first time in the match.
Former Richmond forward Brett O'Hanlon bagged four goals for the winners, including an ice-cool set shot to put his side back in front in the final stages.
Key defenders Warwick Miller and Adam Symes were superb for the visitors, ensuring Brendan Fevola had almost no impact on the match.
O&M's charge was instead by led by small men Craig Ednie and Matt Pendergast, and the ever reliable Joel Mackie.
Ballarat dispatched Bendigo in the 5v6 play-off to claim the all-important bragging rights over their arch rivals, while Hampden were also big winners over Murray in 7v8.
Rounding out the top ten and the Gippsland League proved far too good for the travelling Yarra Valley Mountain DFL in the 9v10 play-off.
In other matches, the Riddell FL (ranked 29) pulled off a stunning upset to topple the Nepean FL (ranked 13).
After the withdrawal of Tallangatta & District and the Mallee FL, the two faced off in a seemingly David v Goliath battle.
With both leagues being assured of a rankings climb regardless of the result, the game could have been a dull affair but instead proved to be one of the best of the WorkSafe Country Championships.
Despite the amazing upset, the Riddell FL climbs just one spot on the Rankings to 28, while Nepean moves up to 12 and is set for a date with the Yarra Valley Mountain DFL in 2016.
The Central Highlands FL's interleague winning streak stretched to four matches after thrashing the Horsham and District league in Horsham, while the Mininera FL was left at the bottom of the rankings after being completely outclassed by the Kyabram and District League in the 33v34 play-off.
But today's most memorable victory was celebrated by the Colac and District FL, who clinched a thriller over the Golden Rivers FL.
The win of course was dedicated to Otway Districts captain Aaron Mahony who was part of the original squad but tragically died after an on-field incident in early May.
Colac and Districts players wore AM36 on their playing jumpers and were overwhelmed with emotion after the two-point victory.
Final 2015 Rankings
1 Geelong
2 Peninsula
3 Goulburn Valley
4 Ballarat
5 Ovens and Murray
6 Hampden
7 Bendigo
8 Gippsland
9 Murray
10 South East
11 Yarra Valley
12 Nepean
13 Sunrasyia
14 Wimmera
15 Heathcote District
16 Bellarine
17 North Central
18 Central Murray
19 Central Highlands
20 Geelong & District
21 Ellinbank & District
22 Horsham District
23 Alberton
24 Maryborough Castlemaine
25 Warrnambool District
26 Loddon Valley
27 Riddell
28 Mid Gippsland
29 Colac & District
30 Kyabram & District
31 Golden Rivers
32 Mininera