The Griffith Swans came within three minutes of securing what would have been one of the upsets of the season when they travelled to Kindra Park to take on Coolamon.
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The Rovers led by 10 points heading into the first break, but the Swans charged into life in the second term to kick four goals to one to lead by six heading into halftime.
Coolamon hit back again in the third term to take a five-point lead into the final change before the Swans once again found their footing in the final term.
Looking for just a second win for the year, the Swans looked set to produce the biggest upset thus far when they led by 13 points heading into time-on in the final quarter.
But the Hoppers stayed composed to kick four goals and solidify a top-three spot.
Swans coach Greg Dreyer felt the result came from a lack of experience in the young side as they looked to close the game out, and an injury to assistant coach James Toscan didn't help the side either.
"We lost Tosco with about eight minutes, or so we were one key forward down, and they outplayed us in that last eight minutes," he said.
"We didn't control the game well enough.
"He copped a bit of a rib injury. I don't think it is broken or anything, and he wasn't too bad this morning (Sunday), but he is pretty sore, and it knocked the wind out of him.
"Hoping that he will be alright for next week."
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The side will be frustrated that it was another game that got away from them in the end after they also failed to get the job done in the last quarter of previous games against the Tigers and Collingullie-Glenfield Park when they were right in the contest at the last break.
The positive that can be taken from the clash is that the side was once again able to push a top-four side right to the end, and Dreyer is starting to see the work on the training paddock come into effect.
"We sort of started to play our style of footy, and our skill levels are getting better, and because we were contesting a bit harder, we were getting the rewards," he said.
"They got ahead of us in the first quarter, and then we came back, and then they got ahead of us against, and we came back.
"We managed to keep ourselves in the game and kept fighting back. We just didn't do the right things at the end."
The Swans coach was full of praise for the work of Charlie Cunial and Riley Irvin down back while Henry Delves and Toscan continued their good form up forward with four and three goals, respectively.
The Swans will return home next weekend for a clash with GGGM Lions.
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