But there can only be one winner, and that is Albury for the fifth time since 2009.

Playing in its seventh straight decider, Albury started slowly, turned it on in the second quarter, faded in the third and won it in the last.

Panthers coach James Saker said one bad quarter – the fourth – cost his side the premiership, and it’s hard to disagree with him.

But the warning signs were there early for Lavington.

Andrew Dess booted the first of the match and was one of the best on the ground in the first half.

But the Tigers usually find a way to respond, and Brayden O’Hara did just that. 

Saker started on Setanta O’hAilpin and then went to Luke Daly, while Mark Bush again had Adam Prior.

Both teams traded blows in the first quarter, with Albury leading by eight points at the break.

Not helping Lavington’s cause was a knee injury to defender Jonathon Spina, who would play out the match at less than full fitness.

The second quarter had a bit of everything.

Jimmy Grills put Albury further ahead, before Prior bobbed up with his second to keep Lavington within touching distance.

Albury was dealt a blow 12 minutes in, when midfielder Joel O’Connell was concussed and stretchered off.

And just six minutes after that, Lavington was also a man down, with Tom Hargreave stretchered off.

Sam Harris showed desperation with a brilliant smother as Joel Mackie had a goal lined up, but O’Hara’s major after the siren gave the Tigers the momentum and a nine point lead at halftime.

O’Connell ran onto the ground with his teammates before the third quarter, but then went to the bench to watch Dean Polo kick Albury’s eighth goal just 33 seconds into the third term.

Prior got his third from a free kick, but the Tigers then put the foot down with three on the trot to race to a game-high 27-point lead.

But just when you thought Lavington was cooked, it jumped off the canvass.

With Mitch Palmer concussed, the Panthers were running out of fit soldiers, but finally made the most of their forward entries.

The Panthers were two goals down at the last change, but had their tails up.

When Adam Butler’s long bomb from 50 dribbled through at the start of the last quarter, Lavington had kicked four of the past five goals and looked like winning its first flag since 2005.

But as it has done many times in the past, Albury found a way to win.

John Mitchell, Aisake O’hAilpin and Mackie were sensational, as the Tigers kicked five of the last six goals to storm to victory.