South Rovers boosted its finals chances after a 15.10 (100) to 10.13 (73) victory against Russells Creek at Mack Oval.
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The Lions, with four wins and five losses, leapfrogged Allansford to take fifth spot on the Warrnambool and District league ladder.
South Rovers and Russells Creek were sitting on three wins and five defeats heading into the match.
"It was a pleasing result, we knew how important it was going to be for the season," Lions coach Adam Matheson said.
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Russells Creek kicked with breeze in the first term, taking a 15-point lead into quarter time.
The Lions scored two first-quarter goals which Matheson felt kept them in touch.
Then they captalised on the breeze in the second stanza to go up by 11 points at the main break.
Matheson praised his backline pillars Tom Wilson (half-back) and Kieran Timms (full-back).
Wilson was named the Lions' best.
"He was unbelievable, his contested marks - they would have been in double figures," Matheson said.
The coach is hoping to welcome back injured key forward Tim Rhook for the round 12 clash with Dennington.
He normally works in tandem with Abel Farrell who starred up forward with six majors on Saturday.
Matheson said Farrell had been a strong contributor all season.
"He gives us a really strong target to kick to," he said.
"He can shoot from outside 45 metres and still be accurate.
"He's definitely important to team structure."
A grade three hamstring strain has kept Rhook out since the Lions lost to Kolora-Noorat in round five.
Matheson said having the two key forwards in the team together was an asset for the Walter Oval-based side.
"Because oppositions clubs need to think about who is going to play on who," he said.
Manning up will be a focus for the Lions going forward.
The coach said the group was still letting opposition teams take too many uncontested marks.
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