They were challenged. They were down.

But the 2016 minor premiers clawed their way back from a five-goal deficit late in the final quarter in the second semi-final to defeat Dennington 38-36.

Merrivale coach Jacqui McDonald said while her charges’ confidence was already high, the win cemented their self-belief as they booked their spot in the Warrnambool and District grand final.

“We believe we can do it,” she said.

“We’ve got the skill and we’ve got the fight and we want to win.”

Dennington leapt out of the blocks at Allansford Recreation Reserve on Saturday, breaking away to a 4-1 lead, but Merrivale soon put to rest any murmurings about being rusty after a week off.

They scored five of the next six goals to get in front, and scores were locked on 10-all at quarter-time.

From that point, the lead rarely stretched beyond two goals until the final term, with Dennington turning a one-goal three-quarter-time deficit into a four-goal lead.

The Dogs maintained a break of three- or four-goals on Merrivale for much of the quarter but, just when it looked like the reigning premiers were in the box seat, the Tigers responded again.

With a couple of breaks, they were back within a goal.

Then McDonald, who moved into goal keeper in the second quarter to try to help quell the influence of tall Dogs combination Katie Burt and Lani Keane, pulled off a fiercely contested intercept in the goal circle.

She set up the Tigers’ play as they levelled the score.

They took the lead, converting off the next centre, and another break saw them up by two goals just moments before the buzzer went.

McDonald praised the efforts of the team as a whole in securing the spot in the grand final.

“Everyone stepped up. Cloe Pulling is always one that pulls it together, keeps everyone talking,” she said.

“Between Louise (Brown) at one end and her at the other, it just evens everything up. They’re absolute assets to the team.”

Brown finished with 32 goals, while at the other end of the court, Burt shouldered the bulk of the scoring, putting through 28 goals.

McDonald was thrilled with how her side handled the Dogs’ talls, whom they conceded considerable height to. The Tigers’ precision and willingness to get to the front paid off.

“For them, their attackers are their key. If we can shut them down, which we did, it’s hard (for them to win),” McDonald said.

“They rely on that feed over the top all the time, so we’ve got to be in front, away from them, ready for that intercept.”