After falling to Wodonga, Albury has hit back in the best possible way with drubbings of Corowa-Rutherglen and North Albury.
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The Hoppers were no match for the Tigers during the Anzac Day clash, going down 24.19 (163) to 3.4 (22) at Albury Sportsground
Brayden O’Hara made a phenomenal return from suspension with seven majors as Albury capped off a dominant victory.
Tigers’ co-coach Shaun Daly has been delighted with the way his side has bounced back.
“I think both games we had a four-quarter performance, rather than dipping away, especially when we were up by a fair bit at three-quarter-time,” Daly said.
“As long as there is pressure around the midfield, it helps the defenders out and I thought we did that really well today.”
The match-up between Michael Duncan and key Hoppers’ midfielder Shaun Mannagh was also a massive win for Albury.
Duncan was rested during the final term with ice on his calf, but will have the extra week to recover with the bye.
“They're pretty similar players and Duncs did a pretty good job on him I thought, he ran out he game pretty well and kept Mannagh pretty quiet,” Daly said.
But it was the younger brigade that have continued to impress the Tigers’ mentor.
“A lot of our younger fellas are really stepping up, Jake Page, Dylan McDonald and guys like that who have come through our under 18s and juniors are starting to take that next step,” Daly said.
“They've been waiting for their opportunity and are lifting us to another level.”
North Albury co-coach Clinton Gilson admitted there is a reason why the Tigers are the benchmark.
“After half-time we couldn’t get out hands on the footy and when we did, we turned it over,” he said.
“We want them to keep taking risks, we’re only a young side so we want to make sure they don’t go into their shells.”
The Hoppers were a man down most of the contest after youngster Joe Hodgkin was stretchered from the field with a knee injury in the second quarter.