THEY led for just one minute, but it was the only minute that mattered.
After trailing King Valley by as much as 38 points during Saturday's blockbuster clash at North Wangaratta, the Hawks hit the front for the first time 27 minutes into the final quarter before recording a two-point win.
It wasn't the most convincing play, either.
Despite marking the ball just 5m from goal, Matt Smith opted to play on and handpass to Phil O'Keefe, whose ability to do the impossible seems only matched by his tendency to do the inexplicable.
Fortunately for Smith and the Hawks, O'Keefe took the ball cleanly and dribbled it through for a major.
While there was still around 60 seconds of play remaining, the Roos weren't about to manufacture a quick reply.
Hit hard by injuries to key players Brendan and Brett Sessions, Simon Hunter and Jacob Schonafinger, King Valley had limped through the final term.
The Roos completely dominated the first quarter and a half.
Brendan Sessions, Adam Williams, Tony Ciancio, Jono Rea, Ryan Vincent and Steve Beavis were starring.
When Ciancio, playing the key forward role with Sessions in the midfield, bagged his fourth major 18 minutes into the second term, the Roos were well in control, more than six goals up.
Michael Naish was the fire starter for North Wangaratta.
With Richard Findlay unable to get near it, Naish took over, booting two goals in three minutes as King Valley struggled to deal with the pocket rocket's pace.
By - SCOTT ANDERSON.
www.nenews.com.au
TIGHT CONTEST: (Clockwise from top left) Simon Hunter and Jamie Bell contest the ruck as Owen patterson and Adam Williams watch on
Last Modified on 25/07/2012 16:53