It was a nail-biting contest at Kialla Park Reserve on Saturday, with Goulburn Valley Giants picking up a two-point win.
The first game of the side’s 2022 Victorian Country AFL Masters campaign, the Giants narrowly downed Samaria Suns 5.3 (33) to 5.1 (31).
Steven Tate played well for the men in orange, slotting four goals, while Tyler Stevens picked up one major.
For the Suns, two Giants players got on the score sheet, with Duane Farrant and Tony Morris filling in for the visiting team and doing their best to get the opposition side over the line.
The game was one-sided early, with the home team looking like it was set to cruise to victory.
The Giants went into the quarter-time break with three unanswered goals on the scoreboard, before taking a 25-point lead into the main break.
After half-time the Suns came out shining, with a massive third term having the visiting side dramatically take the lead.
Samaria managed to turn a 25-point half-time deficit into a five-point lead at the final change, with the drastic flip of the scoreboard a wake up call for the Giants.
Luckily for the home side it clicked right back into gear, with Tate managing to clinch the win with a late final-term goal.
The thrilling two-point victory was a great way to start the season for the Goulburn Valley side, with an entertaining clash giving it plenty to think about.
The Giants will have this weekend off, before the action kicks off again on April 10.
In what is sure to be another exciting clash for the masters side, the Giants will travel to Princes Park, Maryborough in round two, with a game against Ballarat pencilled in for noon.