Greater Western Victoria Rebels led by 13 points against the Northern Knights, 11 minutes into the final term of its TAC Cup clash on Sunday, only to be overrun and go down 9.10 (64) – 9.6 (60) in wet and windy conditions.

Seeing games slip through their hands late in the piece has unfortunately been common this season for the Rebels. In seven of its nine matches, it has been within 13 points at three quarter-time – leading on two occasions – and only mustered a win and a draw from these golden chances. 

Kicking into a fierce breeze, the Rebels showed plenty of fight to work their way to the front in the last term, but the final 15 minutes belonged to the Knights. The only look-in the Rebels got was a frantic 60 seconds in their forward 50 in the finals two minutes, but the Knights were able to clear the ball and hold on.

While it is easy to underline the disappointing final stages of games, coach Marc Greig raised the valid point that his boys were doing plenty right, it was just a matter of continuing to work on its last quarters as well as making the most of other stages within games. Greig saying his group did not take advantage of a strong wind in the first quarter, which was just as costly. Greig said the positive was that aside from a huge loss to Dandenong Stingrays, it had been in every game, however it has won just two matches for the season.

The results will begin to go their way if they continue working hard and Greig could not question their effort.

“At some point the tide will turn,” Greig said.

“We keep coming and we don’t give up.

“They’re doing a lot right, if we’re losing by five goals every week it’s a different story...we’ve just got to keep working hard.”

Izaac Grant played a starring role in attack, kicking seven goals as well as laying seven tackles in a best on ground performance. Elliot Lamb and Scott Carlin also impressing. Rebels face Dandenong next week.