The fourth-placed Rovers kicked three late goals, including one to Jacob Fry with 30 seconds left to secure the 9.5 (59)- 7.13 (55) win.

Suspended playing coach Jamie McPherson was over the moon with his side’s result, never giving up down the stretch.

“It was fitting that ex-Buffalo Jacob Fry kicked the winning goal with just seconds remaining, as this was the one game we wanted to win so badly,” Rovers coach Jamie McPherson said.

“Three years in a row we have beaten the Buffaloes when it counted and it showed again today, with the intensity and ferocious play we showed.”

Despite being down at the main break 25-20, the Rovers started the third quarter stronger, jumping out to a 41-33 three-quarter time advantage.

The Rovers never dropped their heads and battled right until the final siren.

“The beauty of the Mount Isa AFL competition is that everyone makes the finals and it comes down to how badly you want it in the end,” McPherson said.

“Despite finishing last on the ladder, we showed we had plenty left in the tank for the 2014 season.”

McPherson is now confident his side can cause a second upset in as many weeks when they take on Tigers in the grand final qualifier.

“All the boys are already looking forward to next week, as we have nothing to lose and they have everything to lose,” he said.

“It should be a good challenge and I know my boys are up to it.”

McPherson credited the performance of Cargill medal runner-up Mick Dombrovski in the middle of the park.

“Mick proved why he’s polled second in the Cargill medal, having an exceptional game and leading from the front,” McPherson said.

“Patrick Dickie and Archie McPherson were two of our best players on the ground on Saturday.”

“The whole team deserves credit though for the way we limited Buffaloes stars Ryan White and James Page on the day.”

On the other hand, the fancied Buffaloes were left shattered after the match, seeing the match slip away from them.

“We just didn’t bring the quality of football that is needed in finals and the Rovers punished us for that,” Buffaloes coach Brad Nunn said.

“We would kick a couple of goals and seem to gain momentum but then we would take the foot off the accelerator and let the Rovers back into the match.”

“At the end of the day, they just wanted it more and that showed in the final quarter.”

While disappointed about the finish to the season, Nunn said his club has plenty to look forward to next season.

‘‘We put a solid string of games together towards the end of the season, which was great to see,’’ he said.

‘‘It’s just unfortunate that we couldn’t bring that into the finals but I guess there is always next year.’’