The Rovers were down by 49 points at half-time in the Ovens and Murray league Round 4 match, but reduced the deficit to 31 points at three-quarter time and ran out five point winners, 16.11 (107) to 16.6 (102).

Daniel McCullough’s seven goals were crucial to the comeback.

Rovers treasurer Chris Doyle said it was a “game of two halves”. “Everyone was ecstatic,” he said.

“We’d been close a couple of times in the last month but we just couldn’t quite get over the line.

“To get over the line in the way they did has given the playing group, which is predominantly local, a really good boost of confidence for the next couple of weeks.”

The Wangaratta Rovers are scheduled to play hometown rival Wangaratta on Sunday, and Doyle said there was “more than four points on the line”.