A first quarter blitz lifted Albury to a 92-point win over Wodonga on Easter Saturday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Tigers kept the home team scoreless in the first term, racing to a 47-point break, but Wodonga steadied, trailing by 53 at the four-minute mark of the final term.
However, seven goals in the last 20 minutes pushed the score to 24.15 (159) to 10.7 (67).
It followed Albury's biggest loss in a decade, a 71-point drilling by Lavington.
"The players built up for this game and the first quarter showed that and to be able to keep playing at that intensity, good luck," coach Peter German said.
The temperature nudged the 30 degree mark on a draining day.
"We got what I was looking for, which was intensity in the first quarter, and I was pleased at the end we could run the game out, that's what you do pre-season for," German said.
The match was effectively over after just 15 minutes.
The Tigers had made two late changes with Joel Mackie (soreness) and Kieran Ellis (migraine) replaced by Dean Polo and Will Blomeley.
It was Polo's first senior action for the season after playing a half in reserves against Lavington as he continues to battle a long-running back complaint.
"Even at 70 per cent, he showed again how great he is as a player," German said.
Jessy Wilson also played his first senior game after a grand final suspension and booted four, while yet another player in his first game after suspension in former North Albury forward Lachie Taylor-Nugent landed five.
After Albury's early domination, it was relatively even for the next two quarters with Jackson Heagney-Steart the best forward on the ground.
He also nabbed five majors and combined superbly with centre half-forward Tom Johnson.
However, Albury's Shaun Daly was playing with typical vigour, while classy duo Elliott Powell, who kicked three goals in the first 20 minutes, and Brayden O'Hara were also in form, as the Tigers had too much class for the out-gunned Bulldogs.
'I think our work around the footy was poor at times, Albury certainly got out and moved the ball from the centre of the ground really quickly and effectively," Wodonga coach Zac Fulford said.
"Our tackle effectiveness was down as well I thought."
As well as the power forwards, midfielder Dylan Beattie also played well.
Both teams will now play on ANZAC Day.
German is hoping Mackie and Ellis will be fine, along with O'Hara (calf) and Michael Duncan (cork), who both limped off late.
The Tigers host North Albury, while the Bulldogs are away to Wodonga Raiders.
- Receive our daily newsletter straight to your inbox each morning from The Border Mail. Sign up here