The Rebels led for the vast majority of the game but could not hold off a fourth quarter push from the Bushrangers.

Rebels coach Mark Greig said some members of his side need to show a greater 'will to win' in order to win games like this going forward.

"We've got the will to win but we need it in more numbers," he said.

"We're starting to see now who we can expect it from and who we need more from."

Bushrangers forward Elijah Hollands kicked his second goal of the contest with five minutes left to give them only their third lead of the game.

Rebels forward Nicholas Caris had an opportunity to level the scores a minute later but failed to capitalise on his shot on goal.

Greig said he doesn't place any blame on the forward, instead looking at the game as a whole.

"People tent to put the last five minutes of a game under a microscope but really it was the 95 minutes prior that we needed to be better in," he said.

"We didn't capitalise on the breeze when we had it, our mindset on defense was poor and we struggled in some of the most basic fundamentals - we need to be better, we can be up their with the best teams in the competition."

Midfielder Jay Rantall put together a stellar game working through the middle of the ground, totaling 29 disposals and two goals.  

Greig praised Rantall's intensity and perseverance around the ground.

"His work rate and pressure were second to none and have been for much of the year," he said.

The Bushrangers managed 64 inside 50s during the game which meant Rebels back Josh Dwyer had his work cut out for him.

"He was great," Greig said.

"He saw a lot of the ball, especially in that last quarter when they had the breeze and his intercept marking and defensive pressure really set the tone in the backline."

This was the first win of the season for the Bushrangers who had lost their previous two games against Bendigo and Gippsland by a total of eight points.

The Rebels will enjoy the next two weeks off before their next game at Windy Hill against the win-less Northern Territory on Sunday 28 April.

Final score: Murray Bushrangers: 9.15.69 def GWV Rebels: 9.8.62.