IT GENERALLY goes without saying that if you’re involved with the Albury Tigers, you have an intense dislike for North Albury.
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Some might even call it hatred.
While that is true for most at the Albury Sportsground, Joel Mackie might be the exception to the rule.
The five-time premiership-winning Tiger and dual Morris medallist will be a key player in Albury’s bid to extend a 15-match winning streak against the Hoppers when the ball bounces on Anzac Day.
But after four seasons and two grand finals with North Albury, Bunton Park still holds a special place in Mackie’s heart – just not for the two-and-a-half hours from 2.10pm on Monday.
“I don’t mind going back there, it was a good place when I was there and I’ve still got some good mates there,” he said.
“It was pretty special to me when I was there but I’m now an Albury man.”
Mackie won’t be the only player to have entered enemy territory when the teams run out on Monday.
Former Tigers Dom Brew, Lachie Bruce and Simon Mitchelhill have all joined the Hoppers and been key players in their 3-1 start to the season.
Brew doesn’t draw the plaudits of Mackie but plays the game in a similar rugged fashion in the midfield while having the ability to hit the scoreboard.
Bruce and Mitchelhill have impressed in defence for the Hoppers but will face their biggest challenge of the season against a star-studded Albury forward line that kicked 39 goals against Myrtleford in round four.
“It will be good coming up against them, I suppose they just wanted a bit more opportunity,” Mackie said.
“Good on them for doing it, they’re playing senior football now and we can’t wait to come up against them.”
Mackie said the Tigers were a “work in progress” despite coming off a 215-point victory against Myrtleford.
Star forward Josh Mellington has kicked consecutive bags of 10 goals while his partner in crime, Setanta O’hAilpin, kicked eight against the Saints.
“I think over the eight years I’ve been there we’ve had some pretty good teams roll out,” he said.
“(Mellington) goes pretty well and with him and Setanta working in tandem, it’s a pretty special forward group.
“There’s some pretty good crumbers around them with the likes of (Elliott) Powell, (Chris) Hyde and (Brayden) O’Hara.
“It’s one thing to have them, but we’ve got to be able to perform with them too.
“(North Albury) have got a lot of young kids as well and they’ll be keen to put it up against us.”
