NORTH Warrnambool Eagles utility Billie Smedts is racing the clock to be fit for the its top-three clash against Warrnambool.
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The former AFL footballer was hurt in the Eagles' come-from-behind 12.12 (84) to 10.9 (69) win over Camperdown at Bushfield Recreation Reserve on Saturday.
Smedts spent the majority of the match on the bench after sustaining a corked thigh early in the first term.
The Eagles also lost defender Mitch Bowman (calf) as a late withdrawal with teenager Jett Bermingham coming his as his replacement.
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North Warrnambool Eagles remain undefeated with 12 wins and one draw after 13 Hampden league rounds.
But Saturday's victory wasn't without its scares.
Camperdown, fighting to stay in the finals race, led by two goals 12 minutes into the fourth quarter.
Eagles coach Adam Dowie said his side showed a maturity which would hold it in good stead later in the season.
"In the first 10 minutes of the last quarter they were all over us and had the momentum," he said.
"I thought there was plenty of time and we ended up winning reasonably comfortably.
"It was exactly the game we wanted going into the next month.
"Things were not going our way and to win by three goals shows they (my players) are pretty resilient and tight and they will keep coming."
Camperdown co-coach Neville Swayn said the Magpies, who are now three games outside the top five with five rounds remaining, would rue a missed opportunity.
"There are a lot of positives out of the game knowing we can match it with the best," he said.
"But it's one of the gut-wrenching (loses). The disappointing thing is you wake up on Sunday morning and didn't get the four points and for us that's the hardest part to swallow."
Swayn rated the performance - away from home against the competition's pace-setter - as Camperdown's "most consistent game" of the season.
"Everything we spoke about during the week and planned we nearly executed," he said.
"We were happy with how we structured up.
"We have to take the same attitude in against Port Fairy (next week) and keep plugging away."
Dowie was pleased with Sam McLachlan's game and noted brothers Sam and Joe McKinnon and ball winner Sam James for their contributions.
Joe McKinnon, who can play key back, kicked a team-high three goals.
Late inclusion Bermingham also justified his call up.
The dynamic Luke Mahony led the way for Camperdown with half-back flankers Jason Robinson and Luke O'Neil also receiving kudos.
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