Albury’s second top of the table clash in a fortnight could be its last ‘big’ game until the second semi.
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The Tigers are away to Wangaratta in Saturday’s grand final re-match.
“It’s a real big game, one versus two down there, they’re always hard to beat down there,” Tigers’ co-coach Shaun Daly said.
Albury has a two-game break over the Pies, so there’s little chance it will lose the minor premiership, even with a loss.
The Tigers then face the five bottom sides, before rounding out the home and away season against Lavington in late August.
Depending on whether Lavington defeats North Albury in early August, it too could have little to play for in round 18.
Albury would then have the first week of finals off, meaning it will be 70 days between games which have any impact for the Tigers.
The grand finalists head into the blockbuster with vastly different personnel.
Tigers’ gun Dean Polo returns from a week off, while it’s an exciting day for deubutant Ben Kelly.
The 202cm utility is the son of Team of the Century fullback Brian.
Earlier this year another premiership star in Marc Duryea’s son Fraser played his first game.
“Ben can play forward, ruck or back,” Daly said.
“He’s pretty mobile for that height and can also take a good grab.
“He can kick the ball a long way too and he brings a great family history with him.”
The Pies, meantime, are missing seven players.
Daniel Sharrock, Joe Richards, Mat Suckling and Matt Kelly are all battling injury, representative defender Michael Bordignon is overseas on holiday, Nick Richards is out suspended, while Josh Porter has VFL commitments.
“It’s not going to change the way you approach the game I wouldn’t think,” Daly said.
Given that player drain, Wangaratta will do extremely well to push Albury, but the premiers showed their fighting qualities in the two-goal win over Wodonga Raiders.
Much was made of the Pies’ forward dominance in last year’s decider, but there’s just the one gun in Michael Newton, as opposed to three.
“’Thommo’ (Michael Thompson) will go to Michael Newton, so I’m really looking forward to that battle,” Daly said.
“Obviously ‘Thommo’ wasn’t there last year and he’s come back and been in pretty good form.”
Albury hammered the Pies by 50 points in round three, with star quartet Dean Polo, Daniel Cross, Brayden O’Hara and Daly outstanding, combining for more than 130 possessions in the wet weather.
