Myrtleford will target 'bounce back' factor after heavy loss

The Saints went into the game undefeated and were chasing seven successive wins for the first time since joining the league in 1950.

But it all came crashing down after a close first term battle with the premiers.

"The one for me (most disappointing aspect) was how easily Albury controlled the inside of our stoppages, they really owned that aspect," coach Jake Sharp said of the display.

"It's just the ability (for us) to concentrate for longer and understanding your role at that point in time and that's something our guys are going to learn and that comes over time.

"The more we play together, the chemistry grows."

Look, it was disappointing, but Myrtleford isn't the only team Albury's smashed in the past decade and it won't be the last.

Now the Saints charge had been the talk of the league in racing to a six-nil start, but it could so easily have been four-two.

They beat Wangaratta Rovers by kicking a goal with 39 seconds left on Easter Sunday and then edged out Wodonga Raiders by a goal after a late free kick.

The truth is, under the points system, it's incredibly hard to go from an average team to beating top three outfits.

You simply can't transport a whole new team. Myrtleford claimed only four wins last year and nine players from the final round loss to Wodonga tackled Albury.

Wangaratta Rovers had a nine-point lead heading into the final term against Wodonga Raiders in round six.

Rovers had a winless season last year and Raiders played the preliminary final and it showed in the frenetic final term.

Myrtleford now faces the third pick for the flag in Lavington.

It's a good time to get the Panthers.

Shaun Mannagh is playing VFL and since he left the Panthers have edged out a battling Yarrawonga, while Corowa-Rutherglen kept them to a seven-point deficit at half-time.

The Saints don't have to win, but they must improve because Wangaratta is next.