With the game already in extra time, Sunbury missed a penalty kick to level the scores and head to golden point, losing 28-26 at Fregon Reserve in Clayton.

Altona led 12-10 at half-time and led by as many as 22 to 10 before Sunbury powered back into the contest.

Best afield Blake Leary scored a try in the first half as did Ben Venner, before Young Tonumapeia, Matt Smith and John Makai all crossed to wrestle the scores back to level.

Five minutes each way was to be played with Altona crossing first to lead by six only for Sunbury to hit back.

Missing the conversion left a two-point deficit for the Tigers to chase and ultimately the final kick of the game, from an Altona penalty, hit the post and fell back into the field of play after the final hooter. "There were tears, but we're a pretty tough bunch," club secretary Phil Boyd said.

"Altona got the edge on us at the start but we brought them back, kept slamming at them when they thought the game was done and dusted.

"If the goal at the end had gone in then it would have been more extra time and golden point. But the ball bounced off the post back into play."

With three, 17-year-old players in the first-grade team, Sunbury coach Ben Roarty will still have plenty of young talent to nurture next season as the Tigers chase a second premiership in three seasons.