Youth proved no obstacle for Pascoe Vale as last year's runner-up kept its finals flame flickering with a rousing victory over Keilor on Saturday.
Two of the Panthers' experienced heads - Rhys Ritchie and Ben Allan - nailed majors in the dying minutes of the contest at Joe Brown Oval to secure a six-point win against all odds, 11.12 (78) to 10.12 (72).
The defeat was the Blues' first for 2025, while Pascoe Vale's triumph kept it in the hunt for a top-five berth with three rounds remaining in the home-and-away season.
"It's definitely one of the best wins I've been involved in to be honest. It was a special day playing against Keilor at their home ground and with Mick (McGuane) coaching," Panthers coach Daniel Harris said.
"It was always going to be a tough one, but the scenes after the game and having all the supporters and past players and just people who have been around the club for a long time, and to have them involved in such a special win. One of the best wins I've seen."
Pascoe Vale suffocated the usual free-scoring Blues with their relentless pressure in a rematch of last year's decider.
McGuane's men were restricted to their lowest score of the season by a determined visiting side.
While experienced heads Ritchie (three goals), skipper Matthew Stillman, and former AFL player Paul Ahern led the way, the club's next generation of talent also displayed their wares against a star-studded opponent.
The Panthers fielded two 17-year-olds in Jack Sheedy and Luke Pelosi, while Denzil Whelan made his senior debut.
They were also without VFL-listed players Aaron Hilton, Mahmoud Taha, Charlie Bolmat, Will Hoare, and Jared Eckersley, making the memorable win all the more meritorious.
Harris said Stillman led from the front as the Panthers came from six points down at the 32-minute mark to complete the boilover.
View this post on Instagram
"I've been around footy a long time, but that's one of the best (captain's) games I've seen, particularly with the team he had around him," Harris said.
"I think it's one of the youngest teams we've ever fielded. We had 14 under 22, 10 players who had played under 10 games, we had two 17-year-olds, and we had a guy on his debut.
"If you look at it that way and in the last 26 seconds we had to score, the game was tied, and we have our two leaders in (the midfield) in Matt Stillman and Paul Ahern, and we have a ruck in (Daniel) Guccione, who hasn't really played ruck at all all year, because we had Matty Dennis out, and we have a 17-year-old in Jack Sheedy in there as well.
"It's just something that reflects on the junior development and the junior program we've been spending a lot of time and focus on.
"I think our oldest player in the back six was Mitch Egan at 22, so it's pretty exciting. For them to maintain that pressure against a really quality outfit until the last seconds of the game was pretty special."
Pascoe Vale sits in seventh spot, one game outside of the top five, and is locked in a four-way battle for one position with Essendon Doutta Stars (fifth), Maribyrnong Park (sixth) and Airport West (eighth), with the Eagles up against it due to their percentage.
The Panthers face Deer Park, Airport West, and winless East Keilor in their remaining fixtures.
They endured a 1-6 start to the season and the departure of former coach Leigh Tudor, but have won five of their past eight games under Harris to stay alive.
"The one thing I wanted to do when I took over as coach is just make sure they believe in themselves and they become close friends because I believe once you become close friends, you'll go above and beyond for each other, and I think that's what they've done. They hold each other accountable, give each other feedback," Harris said.
"Just getting the guys to believe in each other and the system, anything can happen.
"After any change, there are always guys that are uncertain... but when there was a change in coaching, it was probably just lucky because I've been there at the club, I've been around, I've got to know the guys, and I knew most of them anyway because I've coached a lot of them in the juniors and I've seen them come through the 18s, so I feel like I had that relationship with them already, which is good.
"I think it was more about stabilising the group and making sure we can get something out of the year.
"All the guys now have the belief, and belief is a powerful thing. When you have belief and trust in each other, it becomes a lot more enjoyable and you get these results.
"Unfortunately with youth comes inconsistencies, so that's going to be my driving message this week. We need to win two in a row."
Harris said he had also prioritised strengthening the connection between former players and the club's current junior and senior players.
"That's been a big driver for me, getting the past players into the rooms with all the players, and making sure they know the history of the club, but also that they're the guys who come watch you week in, week out, win, lose or draw," he said.
Harris heaped praise on Ahern, who played 22 games at the top level and has been named in his side's best six times from his past eight games.
"I've been super impressed with him, not only as a footballer but as a person," he said.
"His ability to get these young guys around him to improve and fast-track them, he's really taken that leadership role. It's not just about his footy - it's about the team.
"His footy's actually become pretty elite this year. His last seven or eight weeks have been something extraordinary. He's playing a lot more midfield minutes and he's enjoying his footy. He's an elite talent, an elite kick of the football, but also his clearance and stoppage work is really good.
"He's a teacher as well; he's teaching these young boys, and he does it by actions. I love coaching Paul."
Teenager Ahmed Zahraman, who has 13 goals to his name from 12 senior appearances this season and was named in the best on Saturday, has also impressed the coach.
"I reckon he's the most improved player in the competition," Harris said.
"As a junior, he was a forward, now he's playing down back and in the ruck.
"When you've got someone like that who can run, jump, mark, understands football, he's a real weapon and he's only 19 years old. I think AZ is probably the most improved player in the competition. I've seen a lot of footballers, and he's just got rare talent. That and his work rate is getting him good results."
The Panthers will host fourth-placed Deer Park on Saturday in a clash Harris labelled as "massive".
