Thomson kept its finals hopes flickering with a superb come from behind win against Winchelsea in Geelong District Football League on Saturday.
Thomson kept the Blues goalless in the second half and turned around a 27-point half-time deficit into a rousing 17-point triumph.
The Tigers are in sixth spot on the ladder with 10 wins, the same as fifth-placed Geelong West Giants and a game behind Bell Post Hill and Bannockburn.
However, Thomson faces a nightmare run to end the home and away season and will meet the top three sides starting with second placed East Geelong this weekend, third placed Bannockburn in round 17 and top of the ladder Inverleigh to finish.
Coach Paul Lynch said his side can only control what it can control.
“Our destiny is in our own hands, we’re not hiding from the fact that we have to play well,” he said.
“If you want to be the best, you have to beat the best as they say.”
Lynch said his side couldn’t convert in the first half on Saturday despite having repeat forward 50 entries and controlling the tempo of play.
“We just found it hard to score,” he said.
“They (Winchelsea) were extremely efficient when they went forward.
“I try to coach without looking at the scoreboard and I thought we had control but just couldn’t score.
“Credit to Winch, I thought they set up really well behind the footy and that part of their game is as good as anyone in the comp.”
At the long break, Lynch decided to go with a smaller forward line in the wet conditions.
Andrew Mead-Harding kicked six of Thomson’s seven goals and spearheaded his side’s second half showing.
“He handled the conditions better than anyone else and was the difference in the end,” Lynch said.
“We’ve been using him in the midfield. He’s hard to match up on. He’s very strong and smart when it hits the ground.”
Thomson was also well served by centre half back Stephen Salajan who Lynch said “kept pumping the ball foward”.
Speedy midfielder Lleyton Thulborn played his first game for the season and was damaging.
“He took six months to work in the mines and played his first game back,” Lynch said.
Thomson faces a tough assignment this week against East Geelong.
“They’re a very good side,” Lynch said.
“I think they have been the best side we’ve played. Every game we’ve had opportunities to win, but East Geelong did beat us by 30 and controlled the game pretty much the whole day.
“They are quick and use the ball well.
“We are a big bodied midfield side. We’re pretty physical and rely on our tackling pressure and grunt around the footy.
“We don’t have a lot of leg speed on the outside but we’re good at contested footy.”
Lynch said Thulborn’s inclusion would help with his team’s outside run.
North Geelong did Thomson a favour and upset Geelong West Giants by two points with Tom Davis best afield.
Bell Post Hill strengthened its finals aspirations with an upset 21-point win against East Geelong with Tim Barton starring.
Bannockburn had no trouble with Anakie, winning by 94 with Kane Ettridge best on ground.
Inverleigh defeated Belmont by 109 points with Casey Meehan on fire, booting five goals.
Werribee Centrals overcame North Geelong by 35 points with Bryce Linehan-Cunnigham’s four goals a major factor.
