The Bombers withstood a third-quarter onslaught from Dennington to score one of the upsets of the season on Saturday.

Chatfield said it was evident the Bombers were up for the fight from their pre-game warm-up.

“The warm-up was probably the best we’ve had all season. I got the guys together a bit earlier, and said ‘I think we’re a chance today’ like I think we are every week,” he said.

“There was nobody sort of wandering around or doing their own thing, we were together from the warm-up. We were all on the same page and we got the rewards of that.”

Both sides were heavily depleted with injury, with East Warrnambool losing key ruckman Dylan Burns prior to the game with a broken hand.

Dennington was also without several experienced players, who were nursing injuries on the sidelines.

Chatfield said the form of his midfielders was integral to the triumph.

“Losing Dylan (Burns), we had to throw Dylan (Cross) in the ruck for a bit. But our midfielders broke even in the centre clearances,” he said.

“They fought hard and kept going right until that last quarter.

“When Dennington came hard and got in front at three quarter time, I told the boys that good sides keep coming. I had the belief in them but they had to lift.”

East Warrnambool faces a tough challenge in the form of Old Collegians next week.