Can Albury win its first Ovens and Murray A-grade netball premiership in just its second grand final appearance?
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The answer is a resounding yes from Tigers’ coach Olivia Aughton.
Albury has rallied from fifth on the ladder and taken down last year’s grand finalists Yarrawonga and Lavington along the way to set up a huge clash with Wangaratta in Sunday’s decider.
Aughton admits there is plenty of positivity around the playing group.
“We know it’s going to be a tough slog and hands down there will only be a couple of goals in it,” Aughton said.
“As a playing unit, it’s that belief in one another and backing each other in to know that every player out there and on that bench is going to give 100 per cent on Sunday and there will be nothing left in the tank.”
After helping Collingullie-Glenfield Park reach the Riverina league grand final last weekend, Brigetta Hart will return to defence with Tinika Tipene to miss out.
Aughton said Wangaratta’s strength is its pace and ability to apply pressure.
“They’ve got really good footwork, they come off and around, get those front balls and are quite good vertically in the air,” Aughton said.
“In terms of their goals, they have Amanda (Umanski) sitting back as a strong target and Kellie (Wangaratta coach Kellie Keen) is able to put up shots from a pretty decent range around the ring.
“In terms of combating that, it’s going to be a matter of looking at those match-ups and making sure we work as a unit together out on court.”
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