Then Justin Dickson and Tim Nicholls walked into the Lavington changerooms with green hair..

The young Hoppers had kept their new-look under raps on the team bus on the way to the ground before taking off their beanies.

"I had absolutely no idea what was going on," Lambert laughed.

"They rocked into the rooms with green hair and I just thought 'what the bloody hell is going on here'.

"We had a young side that year and all I could do was roll with it.

"I didn't think a spray would do anyone any good."

The prank seemed to inspire rather than distract North Albury as it led Wangaratta Rovers by 30 points at quarter-time.

The Hawks hit back and momentarily hit the lead in the final quarter before a Jason Kerr goal inspired Lambert's charges to kick the next eight on the way to a 48-point victory.

Dickson and Nicholls told teammates during the grand final celebrations they had coloured their hair "for a bit of fun" and hadn't intended to be distractions.

"It all turned out," Lambert said.

"It was a great day."

While Dickson and Nicholls were talking points on the biggest stage in 2002, many Ovens and Murray and district league footballers have stood out for years because of their hair or lack of it.

IN OTHER NEWS:

League personality and Morris medallist John 'Juice' Kingston underwent a major makeover in 2006 for a cause close to his heart.

The Corowa-Rutherglen backman agreed to lose his trademark mullet and goatie to support the Royal Children's Hospital where his son Jacob has been treated for a heart condition since he was born.

More than $7000 was raised for the hospital.

In 2018, North Albury and Wodonga Raiders faced off with Zach Rouse and Josh Lloyd clashing in a battle of the mullets.

Lloyd later parted company with his mulet of 18 months to raise $3780 during North Albury's Pink Day, an annual luncheon in aid of cancer support group Brave Hearts on the Murray.