Royals grasp victory at last gasp

In the space of 30 seconds, Royals stole victory from the grasp of North Albany after young forward Harry Broomhall booted a goal after the siren to hand the Lions a thrilling come-from-behind five-point win at Centennial Oval on Saturday afternoon.

Trailing by seven points with the ball deep inside the Lions' attacking 50 in the final minute, the Kangas defenders looked like clearing the ball and sealing victory until they remarkably stopped, believing they had heard the siren.

Instead it was the final siren from the other side of Lockyer Avenue in the contest between Railways and Denmark-Walpole resulting in Broomhall swooping on the loose ball and booting his third goal of the half to give the Lions a pulse.

With 30 seconds remaining, the Lions - through ruckman Taylor Powell and midfield architect Chris Denney - set youngster Declan McNamara free to spot up Broomhall 30m out from goal on the lead from the cleanest of centre clearances.

With the siren sounding, Broomhall calmly slotted his fourth goal and second inside a minute to seal the Lions' first win over the Kangas on home soil since 2011.

The Kangas led by 25 points midway through the final term when Joel Coyne booted his second-goal, apparently to seal the contest, but momentum would swing decisively.

Crippled by hamstring injuries to prime movers Alec Haskins and Grant Corcoran, and with young defender Mitch Woods suffering concussion, the Kangas desperately tried to keep possession.

Ryan Flick reduced the margin to 19 points but body language from the Lions indicated the win was out of reach.

The home side rotated at will through the centre of the ground and found the right combination late with clean centre clearances, resulting in Corey Ward booting back-to-back majors before Broomhall's match-winning cameo.

The Lions jumped the Kangas in the first term through key recruit Glynn Verbruggen, who booted two clever goals, but the Kangas responded as ruckman Luke Cameron, key midfielder Geoff Wynne and Coyne stepped up to the mark.

The third term belonged to the reigning premiers with a six-goal quarter led by captain Brent Welshman playing deep in attack.

Returning from a knee injury suffered on Anzac Day, Welshman booted three goals to put his side 14 points up at the final change.

The lead extended to what appeared the decisive four-goal break until the Kangas were overrun.

Kangas coach Mick Mustey said his side would have won if his players had not stopped when they thought they heard the siren.

"The defining point was stopping when the Railways siren went which is what cost us the game," he said.

"We would have won; we had numbers around the ball. We completely stopped and Royals picked it up and kicked a goal, that was the difference."

The Kangas sorely missed the drive from key midfielder Matt Orzel while full-forward Daniel Parker, experienced defender Stef Ericson, mobile bigman Jacob Hobbs and forward Brodie Sumich were other notable absentees.

Lions coach James McRae was full of praise for how his side refused to give up.

"I just wanted the boys to fight it out … keep moving the footy and eventually the boys listened for the first time in the day and that's what happens," he said.

"Did I think it was possible? Probably not. I've been saying all year our best will come later in the year and I reckon we played at about 60 per cent but they found a way to win.

"We will get better but I'm under no illusions North Albany will get a lot better."