The Blues overcame a slow start – kicking just one goal in the first half – and the loss of midfielder Mitch Carroll (thigh) in the opening minutes on the way to an 11^th straight win.

Kicking the last eight goals, Coleambally claimed a 10.5 (65) to 4.9 (33) victory, in an affair which erupted in the final term when Sam Fisher was knocked out in a tackle by Coleambally coach Josh Hamilton. 

Jets veteran Ben Prentice took Hamilton to task. The Blues coach objected and the pair exchanged blows. As they were separated, Coleambally’s James Fallon became involved, leading to yellow cards and a 15-minute spell for Fallon and Prentice. 

The Blues had already grabbed momentum by then – and a 10-point lead – after goals to Jackson Painting and Kodie O’Malley either side of three-quarter-time. 

The pair then kicked the next two to seize control midway through the final quarter and virtually put the game out of reach of the Jets on a day not suited to scoring. 

“It just shows that we’re never beaten,” Hamilton said after the 20-man effort.

“There’s been so many games this year where you think, this is not real flash, but someone always puts their hand up to get us going.”

O’Malley was the most dangerous forward on the ground, kicking three goals in his best game since returning to Coleambally from Leeton-Whitton. 

“Kodie, I’ve been really impressed with him,” Hamilton said.

“The last two weeks he’s really improved, he’s getting to know the boys and he’s doing really well.”

O’Malley’s contribution shows the depth in a side that on Saturday was missing Brendan Hardy, Shaun Light, Chris Cerato, Nathan Jones and, effectively, Carroll.

The former coach’s finals campaign maybe in jeopardy amid fears his thigh is worse than the original injury which saw him sidelined from late June until Saturday. 

The Blues only hit the front after the three-quarter-time siren, when Painting made no mistake from a free kick. His composure with some good marks earlier in the quarter had helped the Blues start to work their way into the game. 

“You might not see him then he’ll pop up and do two or three really, really good things that help the team massively,” Hamilton said.

“He’s smart – a good football brain, leads into space well – and he’s got a bit of lair about him as well which gets you going.”

It was composure that proved the difference as Coleambally ground their way back into the game. They didn't take all their chances but Brandon Mathews and Tom Groves were among those not to miss with crucial opportunities, while Shane Pound kept the pressure up in the middle and ruckman Hamilton had a big influence on the second half. 

The Jets had enjoyed all the momentum early, kicking two goals inside eight minutes. But it took 35 minutes of football to find their third as plenty of chances went astray. 

They’d shown their intensity when Jack Fisher – one of the smaller players on the field – nailed Hamilton in a big tackle in the opening minutes. But their trademark game, built on the quick handball, didn’t quite come off in the conditions, as they struggled to use the ball cleanly.

Justin Mesman kicked three of their four goals but sat out the last quarter after feeling a twinge in his thigh.