Filo is expected to have surgery in Bendigo on Monday with his return uncertain at this stage.

The shocking injury overshadowed a crackerjack contest.

Raiders were five points down when Filo was injured in the final term, falling 11.18 (84) to 10.10 (70).

“Jydon (Neagle) was a late withdrawl with the flu and ‘Racka’ (Jack Di Mizio) nearly pulled out the morning of the game with the flu, so I had to play him at full-forward, so we had a few soldiers down, it was a pretty good effort,” coach Daryn Cresswell said.

“We had three shots late to put us in front and one of those was Brodie’s, but he obviously couldn’t take the kick.”

Albury could have grabbed a match-winning lead at quarter-time but, quite remarkably, trailed by a point after a wasteful one goal seven.

The Tigers fixed their inaccuracy in the second stanza, but it returned in the second half, kicking four goals nine.

Doug Strang Medal leader Josh Mellington landed three five.

The classy Brayden O’Hara also landed three, along with Raiders’ Filo.

O’Hara was one of the visitors’ best, along with co-coach Shaun Daly and the pacy Elliott Powell.

Matt Neagle and Tom McCaffrey were outstanding for the home team.

Filo’s injury will have a monumental impact on Raiders snaring a top three spot.

They’re fifth, a win behind Yarrawonga and Wangaratta.

The club does face two of the bottom three teams over the final month, starting with Wangaratta Rovers on August 5.

However, the chances of beating second-placed Yarrawonga the following week without Filo and potentially the final round too against Lavington would be dramatically reduced.

Raiders have improved markedly in the second half of the season.

The club had four losses in its first eight games of eight goals or more, but it then won five straight prior to Saturday’s thriller against the runaway competition leaders.