Lavington has handed the league an early-season boost after inflicting Albury's biggest loss in the club's 10 years of dominance.
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The Panthers' 71-point demolition on Saturday night topped the club's 51-point win against the Tigers in round 16, 2015.
"That's what we needed to show with some of their younger players, who are perhaps not used to that pressure that we put on and I thought we sustained it," delighted Lavington coach Simon Curtis said.
The Tigers have contested a Victorian State record-equalling 10 straight grand finals, winning seven, including last year's eight-point thriller against Wangaratta.
They've taken the league to a new level with their skill, physicality and professionalism, but the Panthers did an Albury on Albury.
Their kicking was superb, but it was their ferocity in defence which stunned the Tigers.
It's hard to recall a more complete team performance against Albury since it ambushed the competition in 2009, signing four star players, with three of them - Shaun Daly, Chris Hyde and Joel Mackie - facing the red-hot Panthers.
Lavington's win has turned the theory on its head that it will be a third straight Albury-Wangaratta decider.
Of course, that could still happen, but the Panthers' display torpedoes the belief the Tigers are grand final certainties.
A strong crowd attended the game at Lavington Sportsground, with the Panthers to host another night match against Wodonga Raiders on Good Friday.
Stunned Albury coach Peter German was quizzed if he will make changes.
"You don't win 21 games in a row (without being a top side) but, in saying that, we can't afford to keep gifting players games who can't contribute the way we want."
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We can't afford to keep gifting players games who can't contribute the way we want.
- Peter German