The Roosters are just two points outside the top-five with four home and away rounds remaining.

Terang Mortlake and Camperdown, which are locked on 28 points, sit above them in fifth and sixth respectively.

South Warrnambool coach Mandy van Rooy said the 45-45 tie was decided after the final whistle.

"We got a goal after the siren," she said.

"(Goal shooter) Eliza (Dwyer) didn't hear that it was a free shot. She was a fair way out but it went 'swish'.

"It was a fantastic shot and a very dramatic finish."

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Van Rooy said the Roosters were three goals down at the final break and fought out the match.

"The girls were thrilled, as they should be, they played a fantastic game," she said.

"Cobden are an amazing side and if we want to make finals and keep going this season we had to have a good showing against them.

"It gives us belief and shows what we can do."

Van Rooy said South Warrnambool played smart netball.

"We were very patient and made good decisions," she said.

"It's something we've been working on. It sounds so simple but our decision-making hasn't been good."

Jessica Tobin-Salzman earned praise from van Rooy after stepping up from division one to play more than a quarter in goals. Van Rooy said she shot at 98 per cent and sank some crucial goals.

Cobden coach Mel Starr said South Warrnambool's entire attack benefitted from its midcourt work.

"They really controlled their feed into Eliza, that was a strength this time around which really allowed them to dominate because of pinpoint feeding," she said.

Starr said it was a high-quality contest which was "a good game to watch".

"Our girls had to work hard for everything and those are the kinds of games we want coming into finals," she said.

Starr said the penalty call which went in the Roosters' favour was "definitely there".

"Our awareness needed to be up a bit more," she said.

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