Another inspired performance from their midfield players has given Southern Districts an important eight-point win over premiership rivals St Mary's in Round 11 of the TIO NTFL's Men's Premier League.
The new ladder leaders were forced to the wall until the final siren against a fiercely determined reigning premier before prevailing in front of their home fans at Norbuilt Oval.
Districts' 14.11 (95) to 12.15 (87) win also gained revenge for their 21-point loss to the Saints in Round 5 when they were outplayed after a good start at TIO Stadium.
This time around it was St Mary's that led at lemon time, jumping to a seven-point lead before the game opened up with a nine-goal second term, Districts booting five majors and Saints four.
Districts coach Shannon Rusca was rapt with his side's intent on a day when the result was reversed from six weeks earlier after a match played in a finals like atmosphere.
"We were 26 points up halfway through the last quarter, but great sides like the Green Machine keep surging forward and kicking goals and we had to play some hard footy to get home,'' Rusca said.
"We had to test ourselves against quality opposition after letting ourselves down on occasions this season, including our kicking on goals which has kept opposing teams in games.
"This time we put a four-quarter performance together, apart from the first 15 minutes when they caught us napping and hit the scoreboard three times.''
Midfielders Matt Shannon and Jake McQueen got leather poisoning from the amount of possessions they got, while defender Brodie Lake's performance in keeping in-form Saints forward Brandyn Grenfell to one goal was also noteworthy.
Waratah won the annual Battle of the Beaches clash with Nightcliff, kicking five goals to one in the second half of Saturday night's game at Gardens Oval to win by 15 points.
Nightcliff looked like winners in the second quarter, banging on four goals to one through the good work of Ryan Nyhuis and James Gow to take a five-point lead into the main break.
But the goals dried up in the last half for the Tigers, who watched Tahs forward Jayden Magro booted four crucial majors that took his season's tally to 30.
Skipper Brodie Carroll around the ball and big forward target Darcy Hope were other good players in Tahs' 7.15 (57) to 6.6 (42) win.
PINT and the Tiwi Bombers played out an 8.7 (55) draw at DXC Arena after the Bombers had led by 13 points at the last change.
The Greenants had a shot in the dying seconds that could have won the game, but those at the ground agreed that a share of the match points was probably the right result.
Tiwi coach Brenton Toy was confident his side could hold onto the lead after a four-goal to one third term produced some classic running football.
"Unfortunately we couldn't do it, but it was a lot better than losing,'' Toy said. "We're measuring our season differently this time, Dale Cunningham was very good for us and our back six is holding up which is important for the team.''
PINT moved to within half a game of the top five in its first season at league level, with Victorians Damian McMahon and Robert Bos finding plenty of the football.
Wanderers found another gear after a lackluster third quarter to beat top-five side Palmerston in Saturday night's late game at TIO Stadium.
Another masterclass from West Perth recruit Thomas Boyes and three goals from Lajamanu superstar Liam Patrick ignited the Eagles, who moved to within half a game of the fifth-placed Magpies with the win.
Down back Brodie Newman and skipper Braedon McLean were superb, forming a rebounding line the Magpie forwards struggled to contain.
Wanderers coach Aaron Motlop said his side's poor third quarter contrasted with an otherwise competitive game from his players.
"I wasn't happy about the third quarter, but apart from that we stuck to our gameplan and got the win we needed,'' he said.
"We got nine goals last night from a forward line that's a bit of a work in progress at the moment, having Liam down there certainly helped when you've got more dangerous players down there.''
