The Tigers finished four games clear on top of the ladder, beat their opponents by 80-plus points on both occasions during home and away series and had the luxury of the rest last weekend.

But experienced Albury coach Tom McGrath is hearing none of that.

“You wouldn’t have thought they would have beaten Yarra or Lavi but they beat both and are playing really good footy,” McGrath said yesterday.

“They have won three finals and we won’t be underestimating them all.

“We are going to have to play well to win on Sunday.”

The Magpies’ fairytale finals run started with a six-point win over Wodonga Raiders in the elimination before they edged out Yarrawonga in the first semi-final by the same margin.

Simon Patterson’s team then defeated Lavington by 19 points in last weekend’s preliminary final.

Albury’s only finals appearance has been a 58-point win over the Panthers in the second semi-final.

McGrath, who coached Albury’s reserves in 1996, 1997 and 1998, said reserve grade football had changed dramatically over the past 20 years.

The Tigers will field up to 12 players tomorrow who are eligible to play under-18s.

“The good sides don’t seem to have a bunch of older players any more,” McGrath said.

“They have kids who can still play thirds who are pushing into the seniors.

“The last time I did it 20 years ago that wasn’t the case.

“There were a lot of 27 and 28-year-olds.

“Josh Ryder is our captain and he’s around 35 and Bobby Griffiths is 25 or so but other than that we have a really young side.”

As well as having some talented youngsters, Wangaratta has a sprinkling of experienced players with Jai Canny being instrumental in the Magpies’ impressive finals run.

Frazer Dent-Ould is another livewire in attack.