Doug Strang medallist Josh Mellington has picked up where he left off last year with a match-winning eight-goal haul against Myrtleford.
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Mellington returned from a six-match suspension to set up the 17.17 (119) to 10.10 (70) win.
It was his first game in 251 days.
It was a fiesty match with a series of incidents in the first half.
Tigers’ veteran Chris Hyde was on the receiving end from the Saints’ crowd.
“Hydey might have been in a few scuffles, a bit of push and shove here and there,” co-coach Joel Mackie said.
“The Myrtleford crowd got a little bit hostile and Hydey gave the old stare there at one stage near the fence, but there was nothing in it.”
Naturally other players were involved once the skirmishes broke out.
What made more of an impression with the Tigers though was the response after the challenge was laid down by co-coach Shaun Daly at the first two breaks.
“They used the footy really well and by foot they cut you up if you don’t man them up,” Mackie said.
“Shaun just put it on us and they’re a good team, so they’re going to have their chances to score.
“I think we were a little better in the second half and responded really well.”
Mackie himself racked up 17 touches in the first half and finished in the Tigers’ best.
And while Mellington’s return will delight the club, the form of another former AFL player in Sam Schulz is just as positive.
Schulz’s career at the elite level ended in 2015 when he suffered a serious knee injury.
He had surgery, but didn’t play a senior game until this year.
He was quiet against Yarrawonga last week, but bounced back to form against the Saints.
Another top-liner finding form just adds another headache for opposition coaches as they find a way to stop the Tigers claiming a record-equalling fourth successive title.
The Tigers still have a handful of stars to return, including Daniel Cross, who had AFL commitments with Melbourne, while former SANFL gun Brayden O’Hara didn’t play with his long-running calf complaint.
But Mackie is adamant the lethal left-footer will play against Lavington on Saturday.
Ryley Sharp kicked three majors, with Elijah and Hugh Wales playing well, along with Lachlan Dale.
The Saints now have a three-four win-loss record and meet the two Wangaratta teams to round out the first half of the season.
The round nine clash against Wangaratta on June 10 will be critical.