Wodonga Raiders’ coach Daryn Cresswell has labelled Albury’s 86-point annihilation the most complete performance he’s seen in Ovens and Murray football.
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And in another blow for last year’s top-four outfit, exciting youngster Matt Neagle broke his leg early in the third quarter.
After a ripping first term, in which Albury had an eight-point lead, the Tigers blitzed the visitors, kicking eight goals to nil in the second, to kill the contest.
“It’s probably the most clinical performance I’ve seen here,” Cresswell said.
“Just how they gelled, how very well drilled they are coming out of stoppages.
“That’s the best game I’ve seen (Joel) Mackie play, I thought he was instrumental in setting up a lot of play.
“We got taught a footy lesson, whoever thought they’re going to drop off is in for a rude shock.”
A poll of opposition coaches over the off-season suggested the Tigers would be three goals weaker than last year’s undefeated outfit.
“A lot of things get said outside our footy club, but we just worry about the controllables, and what we can do,” Albury co-coach Shaun Daly said.
“Everyone’s entitled to their opinion … we’ve got a really young, fit group and we showed a little bit of that today.”
Recruits Erish Uthayakumar and Brady Morton kicked two goals apiece, while Jake Page, the son of three-time club best and fairest Glenn, impressed, but it was the 30-plus players who starred.
Daniel Cross had a stunning 45 possesssions, Mackie 40, while Dean Polo, Daly and Luke Packer were sensational, while Chris Hyde had 18 touches to half-time.
Cross had 13 disposals in the final term, while powerhouse Mackie had 12 in the third.
“We were strong on trying to get a four-quarter effort today and we were pretty consistent with our effort and our pressure,” Daly said.
In the second quarter, it was like boys against men as Raiders crumbled, with a series of errors gifting the rampant Albury goals.
And the scary part is, the Tigers were missing four regulars, including suspended Doug Strang Medallist Josh Mellington.
“The most disappointing thing was, in the second quarter, when they really came at us, we went into our shell,” Cresswell said.
“We’re a young side and they just handed it to us, and we didn’t react very well at all.”
“I was disappointed with the easy goals we gave up… just our young players under pressure, didn’t deliver.”
