A bumper crowd rolled up to the Reid Oval netball courts hoping Rovers could at least challenge the previously-unbeaten, and highly-fancied, Merrivale.

And the Lions delivered.

Not only did they match the Tigers, they upset them convincingly, 43-36, to collect the club's maiden A grade flag.

Elated coach Kylie Carter, who led by example from goal keeper, said there was no way her team would allow a repeat of the second semi-final that Merrivale won by 19 goals.

"They certainly towelled us up last time," she said.

"After that we knew we had to go away and make a few changes and try something different."

Mandy Knee returned to the familiar wing attack position, despite stamping herself as an able goal attack towards the end of the season.

Haley Kelson, who played goal keeper in the preliminary final against East Warrnambool, started at goal attack, making room for sister Carter at keeper.

Jeanna Johnstone lined up at wing defence, after having a week off to rest a back injury.

"I wasn't 100 per cent sure that it would work and I was prepared to change it around if it didn't," Carter said.

But the surprise line-up proved to be ingenious.

Knee was instrumental on the wing, passing the ball into accurate shooter Rhiannon Davis almost instinctively, while her defensive work was just as solid.

Kelson was a reliable and tall target in the circle but also provided a bigger body for Davis to dart around.

Carter pulled in rebounds and combined with athletic goal defender Lauren Aitchison brilliantly.

Johnstone was one part of the most even and entertaining battle of the game against Tigers wing attack Laura Peake.

"The plan was to stick really tight and pick apart Merrivale's zone," Carter said.

"That allowed us to play our own game."

As expected, the Tigers jumped to a 3-1 early lead.

But things started to unravel after that.

Goal attack Danielle McInerney looked uncomfortable under the ring, while unlucky defenders Monique Sefton and Nicole Ferguson rarely had a call that went their way.

Merrivale clung to a 10-9 advantage at quarter time but Rovers were only getting started.

The Lions moved ahead 14-13 in the second quarter before stacking on five unanswered goals.

Goal defence Ferguson called a time-out with two minutes remaining, using it to swap into keeper, but Rovers powered ahead to be up 25-16 at the long break.

"Every time there was a time-out called we were very aware not to be complacent when we came back out," Carter said.

Merrivale got the first three goals of the third term - much to the delight of the crowd at the northern end of the court - but Rovers replied with three of their own.

McInerney, who had her knee strapped, called an injury time-out midway through the quarter and swapped to shooter, sending Angela Collins to goal attack.

The margin was reduced to 32-25 at three-quarter-time.

"We knew if any team could come back it would be Merrivale," Carter said.

"They're a very classy side."

Lizzy Peters replaced Shelley Hunt at wing defence for the last quarter and with the determined assistance of Sefton and Collins, the Tigers snuck back to be in touch 40-36.

But intercepts from Aitchison and Knee, capped with the steady work of Davis, sealed the win for Rovers.

"We did it," Carter rejoiced after the game.

Like the rest of her team, Merrivale coach Emily Batt was coming to terms with the Tigers' first and most costly loss of the year.

"We didn't play very well," she said.

"I wasn't too worried about their line-up or their lead.

"We're the kind of team that can come back from being down by that much - but they didn't let us.

"It was a great season but a disappointing end."