With only four points separating the teams at half-time, the Tigers turned the match on its head in 15 minutes with half-forward Riley Bice the chief destroyer.

The Murray Bushranger kicked four goals of his own as the minor premier slammed on 6.6 to 1.1 for the term.

Coach Dale Carroll said the victory was built on pressure with the Tigers achieving their goal of not conceding 10 goals in a match throughout the season.

“Wangaratta is a very good side with some dangerous players and I was really pleased with how we responded after half-time,” Carroll said.

“Pressure is a big part of our game and I thought the boys stepped it right up in the third quarter which broke it open for us.

“We are fortunate to have good depth and I didn’t think we had a passenger out there today.”

Bice, who was named best on ground, finished with five goals while rover Rhys King also won plenty of touches through the midfield.

Unflappable Tiger full-back Nick Houston was outstanding in keeping Frazer Judd goalless with the Magpies forced to move the spearhead into defence during the second-half.

Sam Wotherspoon, Mitch Anderson and Ben Williams lent good support in the backline while Ben McIntosh and Fraser Duryea made several telling dashes through the midfield.

Wangaratta played its best football during the second quarter with Fraser Ellis, Lachlan Hourigan, Jack Jenkin and Harrison Smart in the thick of the action.

But the gallant Magpies, who had progressed from the elimination final, were unable to match Albury’s run after the long break and fell at the final hurdle for the second successive season.

It was the Tigers’ third under-18 premiership and their second in the past five seasons.

“We have a really good junior program at the club and I think that’s showing at the moment,” Carroll said.

“A few of our players were really unlucky to miss out on a game today but they are all a part of it.

“Shaun (Daly) and Joel (Mackie) have been fantastic with their involvement with the under-18s and I’m sure we have a lot of senior players in this group.

“Most of our side is bottom-age so there are some exciting times ahead.”

Albury dropped two matches during the home and away series to Yarrawonga before beating the Pigeons by 27 points in the second semi-final.

Bice played down his performance in breaking the match open during the third quarter.

“Our midfielders got on top and I was lucky enough to get on the end of a few,” Bice said.

“’Deano’ (Carroll) told us at half-time to persist and that’s what we did.

“It’s great.”