THE biggest Ovens and Murray league grand final crowd in three seasons watched Albury hold off Wangaratta to win the premiership by eight points.
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The official crowd of 7146 people justified the decision to take the grand final to Wangaratta after 24 years being played at Lavington Sportsground.
Gate takings on the day were $57,783.
The crowd and gate figures were more than the last two grand finals including last year's Saturday decider when 6425 people witnessed the Magpies stop the Tigers’ tilt at a record-equalling four successive flags.
A year earlier, the O and M crowd plummeted to only 4125 with wet weather contributing to the poor turnout to watch Albury comfortably beat Lavington.
In 2015, the Tigers and Panthers also played off in front of 10,022 fans.
Gate-takings spiked in 2012-13 when back-to-back grand final crowds paid more than $80,000 to witness Yarrawonga win successive grand finals against Albury.