The reigning premier came from behind to beat Merrivale 13.11 (89) to 10.5 (65) in a qualifying final at Mortlake's DC Farran Oval.

Ben, who was best on ground for his team against the Tigers, said he was looking forward to taking on the Power.

"It'll be a good challenge, they've been the best side all year," he said.

"It'll be a really good game of footy I reckon and we're pumped."

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Threlfall slotted three goals against the Tigers, including a brilliant long-bomb from about 50 metres out.

Blues co-coach Shane Threlfall, Ben's dad, said he was also keen for the next test.

"The thing about a finals series is that the challenges come thick and fast each week, you get rid of one and then the next one hits you in the face," he said.

"We've just got to come prepared, be strong over the footy like we always are and get some of that outside run going."

Shane will have selection headaches for the Power match with some big-name Blues hoping to return.

Premiership star John Paulin, who tweaked his hamstring at Thursday night training, missed the win.

Forwards Aaron Searle (calf) and Jack Primmer (hamstring), who both trained last week, also missed the game.

Shane said depth was important in finals.

"I don't think you're ever going to have a successful finals campaign if you don't have depth," he said.

"So we've got some players ready to come in if the positions arise so that depth is crucial for us."

After a big three-quarter-time melee, the Blues staged a stunning comeback.

They quickly erased the nine-point deficit and Gary 'The Big Show' Robinson put on a masterclass in the Blues' goal square.

He booted three final-quarter goals after some clever work in the air and on the deck.

Shane said his team, which got through injury-free, rallied in the final term.

"Our last quarter was as good as we've played for a while so it was really pleasing," he said.

The Blues mentor said his side's sacrificial acts had been high all game and he asked for a bit extra at three-quarter time.

"I said to the boys 'if we're getting this many sacrificial acts, it shows that we're switched on and in the last quarter we just need to open it up a bit with our hands and get some of our running footy going," he said.

The co-mentor said his team responded to his call.

Merrivale assistant coach Matt Brown said the Blues out-worked his team in the final quarter.

"Nirranda just ran a lot harder than us," he said.

"It was probably a bit of inexperience as well, the younger lads probably just thought it would happen.

"But you've got to work in finals footy, you've got to play a solid four quarters of footy."

Brown said the Tigers, who will play a first semi-final this weekend, had a big lapse in the fourth stanza.

"You just can't have those lapses which we did for about seven or eight minutes in that last quarter," he said.

"We've probably got to learn to lock-down a bit better and make it a scrap until we can turn the momentum back in our favour."

Brown said Tigers forward Kyden Jarvis twisted his ankle in the first quarter.

He came off early in the second quarter and didn't return.

"Once he cooled down he struggled to get back into the game so we brought him off and iced him up to get him ready for next week,' Brown said.

The Tigers assistant said the match was a good learning experience for his young team.

"It was a good learning curve for the young kids, they've seen what you've got to do to win a final," he said.

Tigers defender Todd McLean, who was swung forward for the game, kicked two goals.

Brown said the move work well but the Tigers struggled with their delivery into their forward 50.

"Yeah we thought we might get a little bit of a mismatch down there and it worked," he said.

"(But) we probably didn't bring the ball into the forward line the way we like to."

Playing coach Jason Rowan, who is sitting on 98 goals for the season, also kicked two majors.

Centre half-forward and ruckman Rob Bright, who likewise chipped in with two goals, was named the Tigers' best player.

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