MULGRAVE scored just its second win since its 2010 premiership with an 18-point win over Doncaster on Saturday.
The Lions took control of the game in the third term and moved out to a 48-point lead before a late flurry from the Dons had them within 15 points.
But the home side stood tall to hold onto their lead and score a win that keeps alive their hopes of staying in the Eastern Football League division 2 competition with five games to go in the season.
The Lions are just one game behind the second-last placed Dons.
The win was the first for Lions coach Ryan James, who said the win was for the Lions supporters and committee, who had toiled hard behind the scenes to keep the club going over the past two years.
"It was good to see everyone at the club see some reward for effort," he said.
"We had been close in previous games this season but had fallen short, so it was good for our players, especially our younger boys and the people around the club to see some reward.
"That was most gratifying for us.
"I told the boys on Saturday night to enjoy the win but when they rock up to training on Tuesday they need to be ready because it will be game on for the rest of the season."
Adam Gee, who returned to the club this season, along with young guns Dean Siakoulis and Tim Knowles and key forward Adam Booth (five goals) were the Lions' best.
James said the Lions hoped to announce later this week they had secured Siakoulis, Knowles and some other rising young players for season 2013.
"We are confident we have some of the best young players in the competition
and that we will have the majority of them signed up for next season by the end of the week."
Lions captain Luke Parker was kept off the field in the second half after experiencing hamstring tightness but is expected to be fit to play this Saturday.
■ Waverley Blues summoned all the resolve they could to come back and beat Doncaster East by a point on Saturday.
Just a week after losing a thriller to Upper Ferntree Gully, the Blues found themselves fighting for another close win after taking the lead with five minutes to go.
Blues coach Scott Hunter said he was happy his side had won the match despite kicking to the "non-preferred" end.
"To our guys' credit they fought back," Hunter said.
"We have battled along and last week we lost that thriller. The players showed a heap of commitment and this win gives us a fair bit of confidence."
After a Doncaster East player was taken off on a stretcher in the final term, Hunter expected the final term to go longer than it did.
"It was a relief when the siren went, because we were thinking we still had a few minutes to go."
Midfielders Jeremy Proustie and Paul Savage led the way for the Blues while Charlie Ampt kicked three goals and Ben Smith and Tom Harley both kicked two.
EFL division 2: Rowville 44 points, 160.45 per cent; Mooroolbark 44, 136.02; Montrose 40, 162.46; Donvale 34, 116.96; Doncaster East 26, 81.02; Bayswater 24, 109.49; Upper Ferntree Gully 24, 79.57; Waverley Blues 12, 76.54; Doncaster 8, 70.17; Mulgrave 4, 66.72.