A split round of Ovens and Murray League football and netball will start the second half of the home and away season with the highlight being the clash at the Albury Sportsground.
Albury and Yarrawonga are arguably one of the modern games’ biggest rivalries in the Ovens and Murray Football Netball League. Another tightly contested game is anticipated.
Top of the table Tigers will be hoping to repeat its Easter Sunday win over second-placed Yarrawonga with the potential to go two games clear of its nearest rival.
The Pigeons have named one of its strongest teams for the year with for the first time since the two teams last played, they have their strongest midfield unit.
Lachie Howe, Mark Whiley, Michael Gibbons, Cameron Wilson, Nick Fothergill, Harry and Willie Wheeler have not played together since the loss to Albury.
Albury also welcomes back some class with interleague reps Jimmy Grills and Lucas Conlan returning after missing last week’s thrilling one-point win over Lavington.
Jake Page will miss with a concussion, while his cousin Cooper Page has been named an emergency. Michael Duncan has been suspended for two weeks.
Perfect conditions have been forecast for the big clash in what many pundits believe could well be a preview of the 2023 grand final.
The other game should also be a beauty with the inform North Albury at home to the out-of-form Wodonga Bulldogs in a game that has a huge bearing on both teams’ finals chances.
Who would have thought North Albury after losing its first four matches by an average of 72 points would be pressing for an unlikely finals spot.
The Hoppers have really found a great system under Tim Broomhead with its pace and ball movement exposing any side who underestimate them ala Wang Rovers last week.
Wodonga has swung the axe at selection with Kade Brown, Mitch Dineen, Myles Jewell, and Harry Kitching all playing in the seconds.
The Bulldogs will be hoping to repeat its great start to the season when they won its first five matches, including a 55-point win over North Albury to start the run.
Wodonga has struggled to kick goals in its last three matches averaging just 46 points per game in this period which has them currently in fourth place.
A win to the Bulldogs and they will jump back into third place, while for the Hoppers this game is one, they must win to keep alive the September dream of finals.
Netball
A massive test is on the table for Albury when they take on defending netball premiers, and undefeated, the Yarrawonga Pigeons.
The Tigers kept alive its season with a terrific win over Lavington last Saturday to move just a percentage behind fifth-placed Lavington.
The task this week will be much harder with the Pigeons having so much depth at their disposal as they shuffle their playing list ahead of a finals campaign.
North Albury and Wodonga both have a chance to register just their second win for the season when they clash at Bunton Park.
The Hoppers’ only win for the season was against Wodonga when they last clashed, while Wodonga has just the win over Wangaratta Rovers to their name.
Neither side are in finals contention but both have young emerging talented lists that a victory will do their confidence the world of good.
It would not surprise to see this game have a margin of under two goals either way with Doggies sharp shooter Cassie Mathey and Hoppers Sophie Kohlhagen the key players.
