RAND-Walbundrie full-forward Josh Warren-Marmo believes the heartache of last year’s grand final loss is a real driving force for the Tigers to go one better this season.
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Last season the Tigers made their first decider since merging in 2006, but proved no match for Henty, who scored an emphatic 45-point grand final victory.
Warren-Marmo signed at Wodonga Raiders over the summer, but recently back-flipped on his decision to stay with Rand-Walbundrie in a major boost to the Tigers remaining a premiership threat.
“I’m hoping we can be a bit like Henty, who had a few failed finals campaigns before it eventually won the flag last season,” he said.
“It’s a real driving force for us this season.
“I can’t even stand driving past Walbundrie on the way to Rand for training on a Thursday night because of the memories of grand final day.
“It something that’s in the back of your mind, that you don’t want to feel that pain again.
“I think we even probably over-achieved by making the decider and we weren’t really ready to have a decent crack at it.
“This year we are better equipped than last year.”
Warren-Marmo said not being able to commit to the training required to play Ovens and Murray and the arrival of his first child were the major reasons behind remaining a Tiger.
He is also set to notch his 100-match milestone later this year.
The 24-year-old is coming off his best ever season after booting 102 goals.
The sharpshooter was on 99 goals leading into the grand final and kicked three in the decider to break the magical 100-goal milestone.
His previous best was 72 in 2009 as a 19-year-old.
“Last year I got as fit as I have ever been and it showed in my football,” he said.
“It was also the first time that I have played in a side that was a finals contender, which always helps.”
While Rand-Walbundrie are expected to remain a finals force, the retirement of its best player, Dean Roulstone, after multiple concussions has many pundits tipping a Tiger slide.
Warren-Marmo isn’t one of them.
“You can’t replace a player like Roulstone because he could walk into any Ovens and Murray team without question,” he said.
“But it’s probably a bit like the Buddy Franklin situation when he left Hawthorn.
“You lose your best player but it gives the opportunity for other players to stand up.
“It might be a blessing in disguise because we will be a lot more unpredictable when going forward.”
