It was the match that had everything.
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A first quarter blitz from the Power, a fight back from the Tigers, injuries to key players and a couple of controversies.
Kolora-Noorat had a seven-goal quarter-time lead after a dominant display but then had to fight for its 11.16 (82) to 9.11 (65) victory.
The Tigers outscored the top team by four goals after quarter-time in the Warrnambool and District league encounter at Merrrivale Recreation Reserve.
Coach Jason Rowan said he was proud of the way his men fought back after half-time.
"I asked to them to come out and give everything they've got," he said.
"To their credit, I couldn't be more proud of their second half."
Rowan said he knew what the Tigers lacked in the first quarter.
"Just the ability to know where your man was," he said.
"We went into the game with a big focus on man-on-man footy."
The Tigers' leader said the Power were better at the contest and at spreading around the ball in the opening quarter.
"When we addressed it and asked for that lift and played our style of football, it shows that we're not far away," he said.
"We definitely know we're thereabouts with the top-three."
But the Merrivale mentor said there were lessons to take from getting blown away in the first quarter.
The Power peppered the goals in the opening stanza.
But its inaccurate 6 goals and 7 behinds kept the goalless Tigers in the match.
Rowan said his side needed to be better when other teams have momentum.
"It's a matter of lockdown and do what you can to pinch that one goal back," he said.
Rowan said his Tigers had plenty to work on during their bye after playing league juggernauts Kolora-Noorat and Nirranda in consecutive weeks.
"We all want to go in and get the footy but at times we can't all go in and we've got to cover the exits," he said.
"Good teams hurt you when they get out in a bit of space."
Power Coach Ben Walsh was thrilled with the win but said his undefeated side could get better at "adapting to the different situations" in a match.
"We probably got caught going a bit quick when we were under pressure, which played into their hands a bit," he said.
Kolora-Noorat lost players in the second half against the Tigers with Luke McConnell suffering an ankle injury.
Walsh said the Power also went without star midfielder Scott Judd and Jake Richardson during the second half due to injuries.
The Tigers' resurgence started to build in the third quarter when playing coach Jason Rowan roared after kicking truly from a set shot.
They had a chance late in the third quarter to close the margin to less than five goals but missed it.
The final quarter opened with a goal controversy, which after deliberation between umpires, was declared a point to the Tigers.
It wasn't the only point of contention with Merrivale fans screaming at the Kolora-Noorat runner to get off the field in the final minutes of the match.
They believed he had been spending more time on the field than allowed.
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