Wodonga has realistically ended North Albury’s finals’ hopes in one of the year’s few upsets.
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The Bulldogs kicked four goals to one in the final quarter to snare a 12.4 (76) to 9.10 (64) win on the road.
“We probably felt in round five, we probably let that one slip,” Bulldogs’ coach Zac Fulford said.
“We were disappointed with a few things that happened in the latter part of that game that we were keen to rectify this time.”
Wodonga suffered a gut-wrenching one-point loss to the Hoppers when Lachie Taylor-Nugent kicked a behind after the siren.
“We were pretty good around the footy, we were clean away from the contest,” Fulford said.
“We were able to transition the ball away pretty quickly and our forward structure worked well.”
The underdogs held a 10-point lead at half-time, but the home team responded by snatching a four-point break heading into the final term.
However, the Bulldogs maintained their composure to add even greater excitement to the club’s Hall of Fame function.
“It’s obviously a night we as a current playing group really enjoy, being able to spend time with people who’ve made a significant contribution to the club,” Fulford said.
“Hopefully they get a buzz in the way we’re trying to honour them each and every week.”
Nick Beattie kicked another four goals, with Kiewa Sandy Creek recruit Jacob Barber, Beattie, Shaun Flanigan and Reed Jackson starring.
It marked a strong comeback for Jackson in his first senior game since injuring his ACL against Lavington 13 months ago.
Multi-talented sportsman Noah Spiteri, who plays soccer for Boomers FC on Sundays, also kicked a goal on debut.
Taylor-Nugent couldn’t repeat his first round performance, although he was still the Hoppers’ best with four majors.
The only negative for Wodonga was a facial injury suffered by vice-captain Daniel Wortmann in an off-the-ball incident.
Wortmann was taken to hospital amid fears he’d suffered a serious injury to his eye socket.
“Daniel’s welfare is first and foremost, so we’ll worry about that (first),” Fulford said.
It was the Bulldogs’ fourth win under the first-year coach, who had a new squad after a mass exodus.
