JOSH Mellington and Setanta O’hAilpin combined for 15 goals as Albury showcased its devastating forward line power with an 83-point mauling of Lavington.
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Mellington kicked eight goals, including six after half-time, as the Tigers turned a three-point margin 16 minutes into the second quarter into a 25.9 (159) to 11.10 (76) thumping of the Panthers at Lavington Oval.
The only time the Panthers looked a chance was when Albury was reduced to 16 men, with the O’hAilpin brothers sent from the field before half-time, but even that couldn’t stop the rampaging Tigers.
They had winners on every line.
Big Setanta kicked seven goals, and celebrated every one, Brayden O’Hara booted four from a forward flank, Daniel Cross had the ball on a string and Joel Mackie was trademark Joel Mackie.
Compounding the loss for Lavington, boom recruit Luke Gestier suffered what appeared to be a serious knee injury in the second quarter and didn’t return to the field.
Gestier’s injury opens the door for Justin Koschitzke, who lined up for the Panthers’ reserves, to return to the senior team.
Jack Nunn, Matt Sharp and Brant Dickson never gave up for Lavington, who showed fight in the second term to peg back a five-goal quarter-time deficit.
But Albury’s experience shone through, with Cross able to steady the ship from the half-back line as the Tigers pushed numbers behind the ball with Aisake and Setanta O’hAilpin sent from the field.
Aisake was yellow-carded after a stoush with Adam Prior while Setanta followed him less than a minute later after an errant leg collected Tom Yensch following a ruck contest.
It proved no big deal for the Tigers, who moved Shaun Daly into the ruck, and bottled play up in the Panthers’ front half to take a 10-point lead into half-time before exploding into action in the second half.
Albury co-coach Daniel Maher said the Tigers wanted to impose themselves in the grand final rematch.
“We certainly came out to make a statement – first game, massive crowd, big environment,” he said.
“We didn’t expect to come up here and win by 14 goals so it’s certainly a really pleasing start to the year.
“We’ve got gears.
“We’ve got variety in the midfield and we’ve got variety up forward with ‘Melso’ coming in.”
Maher was pleased with the Tigers’ ability to withstand the Panthers’ pressure in the second term.
“At times in the second quarter, even before the big boys were sent off, we probably lost our way,” he said.
“To the 16 boys left on the ground, that’s the type of footy we like to play with our backs to the wall.
“We really held the footy in and a guy like ‘Crossy’ really shone in that period.
“All across the ground we were able to control the footy.”
Alex Jones was a late inclusion for Albury with key defender Jay Koehler dropping out of the selected side.
