From despair to jubilation.

Victoria has one hand on the Sheffield Shield title after a dominant day three at Junction Oval, highlighted by the dramatic inclusion of Mitch Perry.

South Australia limped to stumps at 5-94, effectively 5-31, after Fergus O’Neill (64no) led Victoria (10-261) to a first-innings lead.

Perry was brutally dropped from the XI on Tuesday but was parachuted in after Sam Elliott – the player who nosed him out of the side – suffered a hamstring injury.

The seamer then made an immediate impact on the game by trapping South Australian skipper Nathan McSweeney LBW with his very first ball.

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Victoria could hardly stop Mitch Perry in his wicket celebration. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

Perry’s strike followed O’Neill and Boland’s strangling start, before Will Sutherland claimed the dangerous Jason Sangha with a long-hop.

Elliott’s absence was quickly forgotten with the ball, but felt around the Victorian dressing room.

As Perry prepared to come in, the Vics turned to batting coach Ben Rohrer to field but he was denied a place on the field as a non-contracted player.

The Vics then called upon Jai Lemire, who was watching on from the stands with family, and Xavier Crone who had spent the day in the commentary box.

“It’s always frustrating when it’s against you. It’s a s**t rule unless you make the most of it. In saying that, we could do the same, we’re allowed to do the same (reciprocate) until the end of play,” South Australian coach Ryan Harris said at stumps.

“Is it the right rule? It has been all year, it’s not as though it’s just come in for this game. It is what it is.”

Victoria earlier captured a dominant lead through O’Neill and a rotating door of partners.

Nathan McSweeney left a ball the umpire deemed on track to hit the stumps. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

After taking 3-30 off 23 overs in the first innings, O’Neill took the Vics from 5-127 – 71 behind SA – to a lead of 61.

One of O’Neill’s partners, Marcus Harris (40), cut a confused figure when he was given out caught behind off the bowling of Liam Scott at 5-157.

Scott almost had two in as many balls, launching a heartfelt appeal to the umpire after he struck Will Sutherland on the pad first ball.

South Australia continued to chase Sutherland’s and O’Neill’s front pads, but the straight line was punished through the leg side.

Victorian Fergus O’Neill is doing it with bat and ball this Sheffield Shield final. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

Sutherland, who has averaged 54.75 since the Big Bash League break, clubbed a short ball over the fence to hand Victoria a first-innings lead.

The short ball ploy eventually opened the door for South Australia after Sutherland dragged a pull shot onto his stumps.

O’Neill added 30 with Harris, 55 with Sutherland and 31 with Elliott before running out of support.

Perry was able to take a breath at stumps, saying he had endured a rollercoaster of emotions over the past few days.

“Yeah, obviously plenty going on,” Perry said post play.

“I can’t really describe it, that’s never happened to me, obviously it’s happened against us.

“I was pretty cooked after about two and a half overs, charging around, getting ready to my warm-up, doing my run-up, and then going out there to bowl.

“I was actually pretty cooked, I can’t describe it, to be fair, but the last few days have been pretty mixed emotions.”

The hope of a South Australian miracle rests with Alex Carey, who finished the day unbeaten alongside Scott.

Scott survived a pair of LBW shouts in the shadows of stumps before Boland and Victoria were convinced he was caught behind in the last over.