Albury co-coach Shaun Daly says the wet weather won’t have an impact on Saturday’s blockbuster against Wodonga Raiders.
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There’s a real buzz ahead of the top of the table clash at Raiders’ Birallee Park as the outsiders look to stop the Tigers’ unbeaten streak.
“They’re a fit side who run the ball really hard and I think their pressure’s picked up around the footy,” Daly said.
“They don’t have a heap of talls, but they’re certainly one of the fittest teams in the comp, which, I guess, we look at ourselves and try and be the fittest team in the comp as well and a hard-running team, I think we match up pretty well.”
It’s the first time the teams have met since round 14 last year when Raiders were on the verge of causing a massive upset at their home ground.
But when star player Brodie Filo had his jaw broken early in the final quarter, the underdogs’ hopes were realistically dashed.
And, in fact, the club’s finals hopes were torpedoed.
Raiders’ strength is their blistering running game, with the perception the recent rain will only hinder their chances.
“I remember on Anzac Day last year, Wodonga was going really well and it was a rainy day and you would have thought with Wodonga’s bigger bodies, they would have won, but Raiders won that game really easily,” Daly said.
“So I don’t think it’s (the rain) going to bring anyone closer or further apart to be honest.”
Raiders’ only loss this season was to Albury.
The worry for the home team is that the 44-point margin could well have been doubled, so the question is just how much Raiders have improved?
Up until a fortnight ago, the Daryn Cresswell-coached outfit was making the most changes of any team, averaging five over the previous month.
But as Cresswell promised, the experimentation is largely over as Raiders finalise their best side.
There’s no changes heading into the game, following the 47-point win over finals contenders, Yarrawonga.
Albury has made just the two changes, bolstering its defence.
Michael Thompson and Dean Heta have missed five and three weeks respectively.
Thompson required stitches after a hunting mishap, while the former Wodonga Raider has been troubled by a back problem.
And in a nice touch, the teams will play for the Paul Wolk Cup.
It was contested between 2005-2012 for the former Tiger and Raider, who died of Motor Neurone Disease.
It will now be played the second time the pair meets.
