Whitehead dropped Daniel Bradshaw in the lead-up to the 1995 decider against Albury after heavy showers were predicted for grand final day.

The downpour arrived and although it may have been a sound move tactically, Albury won the grand final by four points in an old fashioned slogfest.

Bradshaw was drafted by Brisbane the same year.

Whitehead also dropped a selection bombshell on the eve of the 1999 grand final while coach of North Albury.

On the Saturday morning in the lead-up to the grand final against Albury the following day, the Hoppers had a light training run.

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Marty Warry who was full-forward and was travelling from Melbourne each weekend was at the session.

After the final training run, Whitehead told Warry he had been dropped for the decider, despite leading the clubs goalkicking.

Warry immediately got in his car and returned home to Melbourne.

North Albury midfielder Jason McInnes said the decision was a shock at the time.

"Ernie didn't really explain his decision to the players, I just think he thought we were too predictable when going forward and wanted to change things up," McInnes said.

In 1999, the Hoppers boasted a side chock full of talent approaching the prime of their careers

Corey Lambert, Simon McCormick, Travis Hodgson, Brent Piltz, Mark Hilton and Simon Kenny would all go on to be considered champions at Bunton Park.

They also boasted some much needed experience in McInnes, Jason Kerr, Tony Trevaskis, Robbie Murray and Martin Cross Jnr.

McInnes played alongside Lambert and Brett Zeidler in a flag for West Brisbane in 1996.

Returning to the Border the following season, McInnes was lured to Bunton Park from Wodonga.

McInnes previously played 100 games for the Bulldogs who were a powerhouse in the early 1990s contesting five grand finals.

He said North Albury boasted a good mix of local talent complimented by some outstanding recruits.

"We had a good core of local talent as well as a few guys who the club was able to recruit," he said.

"I played alongside Lambert and Zeidler in West Brisbane and recommended the club try and recruit them.

"They both knew Hodgson and he decided to come on board as well.

"Hodgson then knew Jeff Arkinshaw and Steve Ryan who travelled each week.

"Then we had the Neve boys (Ben and Matt), Aaron Plant and Bomber Hilton who were at uni and just rocked up to the club looking for a game.

"Simon McCormick was also going to uni and decided to play as well.

"So the planets just seem to align that season."

Heading into the grand final McInnes said Albury were the slight favourites.

"We had been building for a few years but Albury were still the benchmark after having won a hat-trick of flags in 1995-97," he said.

"We had a relatively young group with Jason Kerr probably our most experienced player.

"The core group was still the blokes that had emerged through the junior ranks.

"Blokes like Robbie Murray, Tony Trevaskis, Matt Neagle and Phil Maunder were the backbone of the side."

Heading into the decider McInnes rated the Hoppers' overall evenness as one of their biggest strengths.

"Yes, we did have our fair share of stars," he said.

"But even our bottom six could be relied on to play their role each week.

"We had a good mix of bigger bodies complimented by the younger kids.

"Albury's biggest asset was their midfield depth with a heap of its premiership stars still running around.

"Guys like Micki Buchanan, Travis McLean and Marc Duryea."

Little separated the two sides at the final change with North Albury clinging onto a slender five point lead.

"I can't remember if Ernie made any changes structurally at the last break," he said.

"But we were confident as a group that we still had the legs and could finish the match off strongly.

"I remember we kicked the first goal of the term and got a bit of breathing space.

"We were never going to lose it from there."

North Albury's dominance in the decider was highlighted after having 29 scoring shots to 17.

McInnes said off field, president Mark Cronin alongside Rod Mullavey were instrumental in the Hoppers breaking their 15-year premiership drought.

Rod Maclean and son, Chris, who was match-day runner also played important off field roles.

Lambert capped an outstanding season winning the Did Simpson medal as well as the Morris medal.

North Albury will hold its premiership reunion on Saturday with a luncheon to be held at the Sportsclub.

John Sharrock is the guest speaker.