The Tigers strengthened their stranglehold on fourth place on Saturday, grinding out a 10.15 (75) to 8.12 (60) success against Camperdown at Hanlon Park.

It wasn't pretty, but it was effective.

Holt's men - known for their expansive running game and high-risk, high-reward kicking - scrapped out a result which lifted them just a game clear of fifth-placed Camperdown and within eight points of Koroit, South Warrnambool and North Warrnambool Eagles.

"The boys just fought really hard," Holt said.

"Their passages of play were a lot cleaner and they looked like a better side but we were able to fight our way forward and contest, get ball to ground.

"We were able to just make something out of nothing and that was probably the difference in the end. We've still got a lot to work on.

"We were probably a bit lucky but we feel like we've been a bit unlucky in the past couple of games so we'll take that." Portland were 15 points down at quarter-time but reduced the margin to just two at the main break.

Camperdown were two point leaders again at the third change but a four goal final term - which also included five behinds - was enough for Portland to snatch the four points.

Ruckman Ben Malcolm was unstoppable in the contest, earning a best afield award, while Daniel Jackson and former coach Tom Sharp were also at their best.

Holt said he challenged Malcolm to step up after a lacklustre effort in the Tigers' loss to North Warrnambool Eagles.

"We had some real positives in that guys stood up who may have been a bit down," he said.

"He's had a great year, but last week he got beaten and the midfield probably got beaten because of that.

"I put it on him and he responded really well, especially in that second half, he was getting around the ground and taking marks, getting into good positions."

Camperdown coach Neville Swayn lamented missed opportunities in the final term which could've gifted his side victory.

Swayn said the game "never really opened up" and felt Portland was able to restrict his side's strengths.

"We're disappointed. I thought the first five or six minutes of the final quarter we had enough of the footy but we didn't convert," he said. "We couldn't get scoreboard pressure."

Sidney Bradshaw suffered a groin complaint and is in doubt for Saturday's clash with Port Fairy.

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