STAR Albury defender Luke Packer rated yesterday’s thrilling seven-point win over Yarrawonga as tough as any final he has played in his decorated career.
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Packer, who was a stumbling block for the Pigeons in a frenetic second half, said the Tigers were out on their legs at the final siren.
“It’s a massive relief,” Packer said.
“When you have two weeks off in the heat, you feel it a little and I think that happened today.
“Yarrawonga came to play and we were a bit fumbly, early.
“I’m just rapt we were able to hang on.”
Despite winning the second semi-final by 63 points, Packer said Albury had prepared for an onslaught and he praised his fellow defenders for standing tall.
“They were all good back there,” he said.
“Polo (Dean) kept putting his head over the ball while Franky (Daniel Maher) and Thommo (Michael Thompson) were great as well.
“We weren’t expecting the same result as the second semi-final because grand finals don’t play out that way.
“It was always going to be high pressure and, thankfully, we were good enough to get over the line.”
It was Packer’s fourth flag after success in 2009, 2010 and 2011.