Four Albury players entered rare territory after Sunday’s thrilling eight-point win over Wangaratta.
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Chris Hyde, Joel Mackie, Luke Packer and Michael Thompson became seven-time premiership players, equalling the league record.
“Words can’t describe, unreal, just awesome,” Thompson said.
The 28-year-old missed last year’s loss to Wangaratta after suffering a serious groin injury in the pre-season.
He restricted boom Pies’ forward Michael Newton to three goals.
Thirty-four-year-old Packer remains uncertain of his plans and he too was honoured to join such prestigious company.
“It’s probably something I’ll reflect on, it’s a wonderful achievement and I couldn’t think of anything better than doing it with those blokes, I’m super proud of the group,” he said.
The Tigers equalled a Victorian State record of 10 straight grand finals.
They’ve now won seven, equalling the famous Wangaratta Rovers’ record of seven in nine years in the 1970s and moving past St Patrick’s six from seven in the 1920s.
A player whose heartbroken face, with tears streaming, summed up last year’s shock loss to Wangaratta could hardly describe what it means.
“It’s unbelievable, there’s no better feeling in the world, just getting one back on them,” defender Michael Duncan said.
“It cut pretty deep, I’ve just got no words at the minute.”
And a Tiger who was one of the few to miss last year’s decider while playing elsewhere became a two-time premiership player after toppling Lavington in 2015.
“All my good mates I’ve grown up and played with in the thirds, I moved away to Melbourne so to come back and get a new one with a group of boys, it’s pretty special,” defender Kieran Ellis said.
Former captain Luke Daly became a six-time premiership player after he missed the 2009 flag while in reserve grade.
“It’s unbelievable, I tried to put the 200 (game milestone) in the back of my mind,” he said.
“It’s just a great day to hang in there, we were always going to be up against it (against Wangaratta at home), the crowd was into it.”
And the final word goes to the Tiger who produced a party trick in the pressure of the second term.
Elliott Powell grabbed the ball on the boundary line from 15m, using the curve of the ball to perfection.
“The bloke they had on me, he was pretty tight on me and I couldn’t get much space from him,” he said.
“The option just presented itself, I don’t kick many of them, I don’t think I’ve ever kicked one like that in my my life.”
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