OSBORNE has signalled its intention to be a genuine finals contender in the Riverina league by signing Ovens and Murray stars Elliott Powell and Tom Johnson.
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The Tigers signed the pair last weekend in anticipation of switching from the Hume league which was made official at a Riverina board meeting on Tuesday night.
Wodonga's Johnson will bolster the Tigers' big man stocks while Powell was one of the premier midfielders in the competition for Albury last season.
In a further bonus, the Tigers have also signed versatile tall Harry Weaven who crossed to Lavington this season from Jindera.
Tigers coach Joel Mackie was ecstatic to be granted admission into the Riverina league and bolster his list with two highly-rated O&M players.
"Obviously I've played a lot of footy with Elliott at Albury and consider him a good mate," Mackie said.
"When the O&M and Tallangatta league abandoned their seasons last week I was quick to see if he was interested in playing.
"Elliott jumped at the chance and it's exciting to land a player of his calibre.
"I rate him highly and the best midfielder at Albury last season.
"Elliott wins his own footy, has the ability to hurt the opposition on the scoreboard and is one of the quickest players I've seen."
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Mackie said he was also able to land Johnson through Sam Livingstone with the pair former teammates at Wodonga.
Livingstone joined Osborne last season and was best-on-ground in its grand final victory over Brock-Burrum.
"Tom is good mates with Livingstone and was keen to have a run," he said.
"I played against Tom last year and rate Jackson Heagney-Steart and him as the Bulldogs' two best players.
"Tom can play in the ruck or forward, moves well and proved hard to stop when we played against him last year."
Mackie said he was excited by the prospect of the Tigers' midfield testing itself against the best in the Riverina league.
They will boast a formidable on-ball brigade with Johnson and Azzi medallist Jamie Parr swapping in the ruck.
While Mackie, Powell, Livingstone and Connor Galvin will provide a midfield of O&M standard.
Osborne has three home matches with the competition starting on July 18.
