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YARRAWONGA co-coach Chris Kennedy has taken a bat to North Albury rival Jason Akermanis in the lead up to his final game as coach of the Pigeons.
Kennedy, who will retire as Yarrawonga’s most successful coach regardless of the result in Sunday’s grand final against Albury, said Akermanis was “ill-informed and irrelevant” after hearing the former AFL star recently label the Ovens and Murray league “rigged” on Shepparton radio.
The 2001 Brownlow medallist has continually lamented the dominance of Albury and Yarrawonga since taking the reins as coach of the Hoppers.
The usually mild-mannered Kennedy admitted the constant criticism annoyed him.
“It does, because I know how hard we work,” the two-time premiership coach said.
“I think both clubs find employment well, I know how many local boys have got apprenticeships and how many local boys are coming through.
“When there are ill-informed and irrelevant comments — I don’t think it helps our competition.
“I think every coach has a duty to promote our competition because it’s a great competition.
“There could have been other clubs playing in the past few grand finals.
“These clubs have both just taken their moments when it mattered.
“If you’re going to make a comment, make sure it’s informed.”
Yarrawonga will enter Sunday’s decider at Lavington as the outsider, but Kennedy rubbished claims the Pigeons had “nothing to lose”.
Kennedy said talk the reigning premier was the underdog because of Albury’s form was a copout.
“It’s funny, you get people telling you that you have nothing to lose and that Albury are so dominant, but the pain of losing a grand final hurts,” he said.
“There’s plenty to lose, whether you are the favourite or not.
“I’ll never use the underdog tag because I don’t believe in it.
“Sides can be the best side all year but it comes down to winning on the day.
“I give us every chance on Sunday.”
But Kennedy conceded this may be the best Albury side he’d faced in his four years at the helm with co-coach Drew Barnes.
“I’ve only coached against the past four but this is the most dangerous, for sure,” Kennedy said.
“But I don’t think they’re unbeatable.”