IS THE inclusion of five VFL-quality players enough to turn around a 215-point deficit?
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Without doubt, according to Albury co-coach Shaun Daly.
The Tigers might have trounced Myrtleford by 215 points when the sides met at the Albury Sportsground but Daly is all too aware they will come up against a vastly different Saints line-up on Saturday.
Frazer Dale, Hugh and Elijah Wales, Matthew Brett and Harrison King didn’t play in round four but will all feature at McNamara Reserve against the two-time reigning premier.
Brett and King are on Werribee’s list with another Saint, Jake Sharp, but haven’t played a senior VFL match this season.
King played in Myrtleford’s round one victory over Wodonga but hasn’t lined up since for the Saints, who have won four matches on the trot.
“It’s going to be a different side to what we played the first time around, that’s for sure,” Daly said.
“We certainly won’t be taking those guys lightly, they’ve worked their way into fourth position and from where they’ve come from at the start of the year to where they are now, they’re probably the form team of the competition.
“They’ve knocked off some good teams and they’re going to be right there come finals time, they’re probably going to knock on door for the top three at some stage, I would’ve thought.
“They won’t just be out to compete, they’ll be out to knock us off.”
The Tigers will be without John Mitchell after The Man from Snowy River champion stockman broke his finger late in its win over Corowa-Rutherglen.
Mitchell had a delayed start to the season due to horse-riding commitments and only returned to the senior side in round 10.
“It happened really late in the game and we didn’t think anything of it, he just iced it up,” Daly said.
“We’re hoping he will come back after the bye but we will have to wait and see how we goes with the specialist.
“He was half wanting to play this week – he’s a pretty tough fella.”
Setanta O’hAilpin has been selected in the reserves for his first match since Anzac Day.
The Irishman had an arthroscope on his knee after the win over North Albury but suffered a setback in his bid to return.
“We probably didn’t think he was going to have as long out of the game as he has,” Daly said.
“He’s the type of guy who tries to get back within a couple of weeks and he probably trained too hard, too early on it, which put a bit of fluid in there and set him back a couple of weeks.”
The clash with the Saints will be midfield star Brayden O’Hara’s 50th match for the Tigers.
The former Central Districts player is in line to represent Victoria Country with Tiger teammates Elliott Powell and Josh Mellington next weekend.
Xavier Mardling
Xavier started at The Border Mail in Albury-Wodonga in 2001, covering sport and general news before moving to the subs' desk. He was editor of his hometown masthead from 2016 to 2020 before swapping the Murray for Merewether. He returned to The Border Mail as editor in 2023.
Xavier started at The Border Mail in Albury-Wodonga in 2001, covering sport and general news before moving to the subs' desk. He was editor of his hometown masthead from 2016 to 2020 before swapping the Murray for Merewether. He returned to The Border Mail as editor in 2023.
