The Seagulls overcame the Bloods in a gritty contest at Terang Recreation Reserve on Saturday, 11.11 (77) to 6.6 (42).

The result gave Port Fairy a sniff at third spot – and the chance to avoid Terang Mortlake two weeks in a row – before a North Warrnambool Eagles’ comeback against Warrnambool ended the Seagulls’ double chance hopes.

Players and supporters were forced to wait 15 minutes to find out the side’s fate.

Seagulls coach Brett Evans, who has guided the club to its first finals series in a decade, said it was important the team moved on from the disappointment of missing out on third spot on percentage.

“The players were all pretty anxious I suppose but for most of the season we’ve probably been expecting to play in an elimination so I  think we can’t be disappointed,” he said. 

“We’ve still got to be really happy with making finals. To beat Terang down here by six goals, that is a really good win.

“The guys weren’t over the moon because they knew that percentage (issue) in the back of their minds but if that was a round six or seven contest, you’d be thrilled to get that result.”

Port Fairy started strongly, kicking the first three goals of the game, including two to creative goal-sneak Tyrone Bean.

Terang Mortlake took 25 minutes to kick its first goal – a reflection of its struggles inside attacking 50.

The Bloods failed to kick back-to-back goals the entire match as the Seagulls’ resolute defence held out.

Unheralded duo Josh Gunning, who manned Staunton, and Adam Farley, who had the task on Chris Bant, were integral for the Seagulls.

Port Fairy built a 33-point lead at half-time and while its scoring dried up in the second half – it only mustered three goals – the damage was done.

Evans said the Seagulls needed to tighten up in areas if they wanted to overcome the Bloods in the cut-throat final.

“We have probably got to react a little bit quicker on our turnovers,” he said.

“They spread really well today and were probably a little bit too quick off the mark.

“We are probably going to have to look at our forward line a little bit differently too. I think it came out of there a little bit too easy.

“We were playing tall and it’s probably just on the conditions – they were pretty heavy, whereas if we get a dry day we probably wouldn’t change.”

Terang Mortlake coach Matthew Irving said the Bloods were “rapt to play finals footy” but were acutely aware of the deficiencies in their game. 

“We have to make sure we turn up with a bit better attitude than we have today,” he said.

“I thought they controlled the game 95 per cent of the day. If we’d get one (goal), they’d get two back.

“Port Fairy rolled numbers back and made it really tough for our key forwards to take marks, so to their credit that was a move that worked well for them.”

Terang Mortlake utility Joel Crawley is on report after receiving two yellow cards in the at times heated contest.