Barnawartha made light work of a potential danger match against Dederang-Mount Beauty after notching a comprehensive 67-point victory at home on Saturday.
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The sixth-placed Bombers were desperate for a big scalp to remain in the finals hunt.
Damien Jones' charges had stamped themselves as a dangerous finals wildcard after getting within a kick of third-placed Kiewa-Sandy Creek a fortnight ago.
But they proved no match for the Tigers who snuffed out any chance of an upset with an opening term blitz.
The Tigers booted 5.6 to 0.2 to open up a match-winning 34-point buffer at the first break and were never seriously challenged as they cruised to a 15.16 (106) to 6.3 (39) victory.
Star midfielder Cam McNeill said the Tigers knew they couldn't afford to take the Bombers lightly who had been building confidence since the COVID lay-off.
"We certainly identified the Bombers as a dangerous opponent and knew we would have to play somewhere near our best to beat them," McNeill said.
"Especially after pushing Kiewa to the limit a fortnight ago.
"We knew we would have to match their intensity early and put it on the playing group to start the match well.
"It was also important to produce a four-quarter performance.
"So to kick 5.6 in that opening term and keep the opposition goalless was probably one of the most pleasing aspects of the win."
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Young developing ruckman Jackson Spiers was the cornerstone of the impressive win.
Spiers produced a best-on-ground display and thrived with the added responsibility as the Tigers No. 1 ruckman
It was confirmed last week regular ruckman Adam Elias will miss the rest of the season with a knee injury.
Josh Star booted five goals in his best performance since returning from a stint with Rand-Walbundrie-Walla in 2019.
Midfielders Daryl Webb, Conner Wiffen and McNeill all racked up plenty of possessions and created plenty of opportunities for the Tiger forwards to kick a winning score.
High-profile Albury recruit Elliott Powell was easily the Bombers best with 30 plus touches in the midfield.
In another positive sign for the Tigers, star forward Peter Cook kicked three goals in the reserves in his first match since May.
Cook had been missing with work commitments and a back injury but the Tigers remain hopeful he can regain match fitness and be fit and firing ahead of the finals series.
Some wayward kicking was the only negative for the Tigers.
"The second-quarter in particular we were fairly wasteful kicking 1.6," McNeill said.
"Especially when the percentage would have come in handy with the second to fourth sides all on the same amount of wins.
"But we just have to keep on winning and hopefully take the percentage out of the equation.
"It's certainly tight at the top."
