IN an ominous warning to the rest of the Ovens and Murray league, Albury says it can improve, despite belting third-placed Wodonga Raiders at the Albury Sportsground on Saturday.
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Irish stars Setanta and Aisake O’hAilpin were dominant for the home side, which recorded a whopping 83-point win over its fellow premiership contender.
Albury’s 20th straight win – it hasn’t lost a match since round 14 against Lavington last year – was set up by the O’hAilpin brothers.
“I thought the two Irish guys were really good,” Albury co-coach Chris Hyde said.
“They gave us a bit of energy and enthusiasm.
“It was probably one of the things that they were challenged during the week that they needed to bring that to the table.
“And I thought they did that today.”
But Albury’s win was soured by a knee injury to young gun Elliott Powell.
Powell was stretchered off the ground at the start of the second quarter, before being taken to hospital.
It was the only blemish on an otherwise fruitful day for the Tigers, who made a statement by booting a whopping 20.15 -135 to Raiders’ 7.10 - 52.
Raiders coach Daryn Cresswell said his side now had two choices.
“It can go either way can’t it,” Cresswell said.
“It can hurt the pride or you can jump off the canvas and say we need to do something about it and I hope that’s the way we go.
“It’s a good opportunity for us to learn about what it takes to be successful, because they’re (Albury) a brilliant football side.”
Albury showed just how brilliant it was in a game-defining first half.
The Tigers led by 22 points at quarter time and fought off a strong challenge from the Raiders in the second term.
In a team-lifting effort, Raiders captain Jack Di Mizio showed his side how it was done, running back with the flight of the ball, with little regard for his own welfare.
The Raiders booted the first three goals of the second term to narrow the margin to less than a straight kick.
But Albury counter-punched, booting five of the next six – including two 50-metre bombs from Justin Carey.
Albury’s halftime lead of 29 points then ballooned out to 65 points at three-quarter-time, with Brayden O’Hara snagging two clutch goals in the third term.
Setanta booted three goals in the final quarter to finish with five – he now has 44 for the season – but the damage had already been done.
Raiders livewire Ross Tungatalum was held to just one goal by Kieran Ellis.
It came nine minutes into the second quarter.
