One of the closest lock-down roles the league has seen in years has reignited the fiercest rivalry of the modern era.
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Albury tagger Will Blomeley often made contact with Yarrawonga star Mark Whiley, even when the ball was 70 metres away.
It was the catalyst for a fiery first half, punctuated by more fights than pure football.
“I just had to lock-down and concentrate the whole time because as soon as you start drifting away and looking at the ball, your man is 10 metres ahead of you and, before you know it, he’s 20 metres ahead of you,” Blomeley said.
The nuggety on-baller was named in the Tigers’ best.
“They’ve got a star on-baller (Whiley) and we put a bit of work into him, they flew the flag a little bit for him,” Albury co-coach Joel Mackie said.
We put a bit of work into him, they flew the flag a little bit for him.
- Joel Mackie
“I think his (Blomeley’s) first half was exceptional.”
Mackie admitted it was the fieriest recent match between the pair, who played a league record six successive grand finals from 2009.
“It was an aggressive tag, Mark’s used to that, I think every time Albury and Yarrawonga play, there’s a lot going on,” Yarrawonga co-coach Chris Kennedy said.
The pair was bitter rivals during the bulk of the grand final era, but the serious injury suffered by Albury’s James McQuillan in the 2014 season-opener thawed relations.
No reports were laid, but it was a tough one for umpires Matt Sanders, Andrew Bowden and Matt Tom.
“At this time of the year it’s a good chance to have a look at the umpires and see where they’re at,” AFL North East Border field umpires’ coach Shane Downie said.
“We are looking for eight for finals and those three would fit into that eight.”
