The Rats travelled to Dimboola to take on the Roos and came back with the points following an 18.6 (114) to 13.10 (88) win.

Wind and a heavy ground ensured the game was played in tough conditions.

For three quarters the two sides could not be separated as momentum and the scoreboard see-sawed first one way and then the other.

At the final break, the scores were locked together at 71-71.

The Rats players quickly asserted themselves in the last quarter to win by 26 points.

Coach David Hosking said his side finished with a depleted bench.

“In the end we only had one feller on the bench and he’d already played in the reserves,” he said.

The undermanned Rats had players cramping up and unable to go off but still managed to outrun Dimboola.

Hosking said it took a real team effort.

“The good part was that we had a lot of different performers,” he said.

“It still wasn’t quite the four-quarter effort but it was much more consistent across the board.

“The way the boys finished showed a lot of character.” 

Roos coach Hamish Exell said he was pleased by the way his team played despite the loss.

“Obviously I would have liked to get the win but the boys played well,” he said.

“They were a bit fitter than we were and they took their opportunities better.”

The race for the final spot in the top five remains tight due to round 14 results.

The Rats join Nhill Tigers and Warrack Eagles on four wins for the season.

All three sides are separated by less than 10 percentage points.

The Rats get another chance against the Roos in the final round after playing Minyip-Murtoa in round 15.

Nhill will play the fourth-placed Stawell Warriors before tackling the Eagles.

With the Eagles facing the Roos on Saturday there is a real chance all three teams will still be eyeing off a finals spot. 

Hosking said the situation was interesting leading into finals.

“I guess it’s the lesson for our guys,” he said.

“We had few games earlier in the season we could have won but didn’t.

“Nhill and Warrack would say that as well though.”