TWO finals bound sides in Bordertown and Padthaway staged a close tussle to complete the minor round, with the Lions getting over the line by 14 points.
Needing a win to ensure a finals berth, Padthaway finished the better, kicking five goals to two in the last quarter to give their confidence a boost.
On the other hand, Bordertown will limp into the finals after losses to Keith and Padthaway in the past two matches.
After a wet, windy day on Friday, conditions remained fine on Saturday, although players struggled to keep their footing on the damp surface.
With the sides looking evenly matched, Josh Searle kicked the opening goal for the Roosters.
His direct opponent on the wing, Cody Marshall had the answer when he soccered it through from the goal square.
Brewer and Cuthbertson were under notice in Bordertown's back half, while Stark was mopping up at the other end with Wanders another finding plenty of the ball.
The Roosters managed goals to Dahlitz and Pollock, but then a few misses followed and Padthaway made them pay with late majors to Gunning and Dillon.
At quarter time there was only two points between the sides. Both sides were missing targets at the start of the second, with scoring opportunities few and far between.
Padthaway were able to break the deadlock with McLennan marking close in.
Frick took the ball out of centre and Cuthbertson delivered to Dahlitz for the immediate reply.
Sam Devitt was one player finding some space and he delivered to Pollock who handballed to Harkness for a top goal.
The Lions ruckman Peter Featherston was having a big bearing on the game, gaining the taps as well as taking a number of marks around the ground.
In a tight, low scoring contest, the Roosters were three points in front at half time.
The game remained a tight contest as both sides peppered the goals without much luck.
Gunning was able to gather on the run and pinpoint a pass to McLennan for the first goal of the term.
Bordertown had the answer with Hayes gathering an attempted clearing kick and putting it through. The Lions runners were finding more of the ball and goals to Degabrielle and Gunning opened up a handy break.
However Bordertown were able to come back with two goals and one behind to Frederick to have the Roosters up by one at the final change.
Padthaway had the start they wanted in the final quarter with Wanders sending in where McLennan marked strongly and finished off.
Cuthbertson turned out the next attack and Bordertown were able to go forward through Paech and Searle to see Hayes handball to Dahlitz for his third goal.
The intensity lifted with the result up for grabs.
It was Padthaway who were able to win the important contests and goals came to Degabrielle and McLennan.
Bordertown were able to keep in touch with Hampel on line midway through the term to bring the margin down to five points.
Featherston continued to be a tower of strength as Padthaway held onto their lead. Bordertown's defence held them out for a time, but when McLennan slotted through his sixth goal the Lions looked home.
There was still time and a 50 metre penalty put Hampel within distance, however his slot drifted off line.
Padthaway were able to go back into attack, where Edwards marked and his shot was on line to give the Lions victory by 14 points.