Albury extends head-to-head record against North Albury
North Albury had a chance to end years of suffering at the hands of arch rival Albury, in the Ovens and Murray league.
North Albury has blown its best chance to beat arch rival Albury for the first time in almost two decades, when it went down by two points with a shot after the siren by rising star Josh Murphy off-target.
Following a string of blow outs dating back to 2008, North Albury trailed by one point when the siren sounded in the Anzac Day traditional battle.
Murphy, who is playing for North Albury due to a Murray Bushrangers bye, was awarded a free kick, 35m out from goal on a 45-degree angle just before the final siren sounded.
But the 190cm promising forward pushed his shot to the right to enable Albury to extend its current head-to-head record to 29-0 over North Albury.
Albury’s Mat Walker had put Albury back in front moments before North Albury mounted it’s ultimately unsuccessful desperate final charge at victory.
Murphy kicked 1.6 after kicking six goals last week with fellow forward Josh Minogue restricted to only one goal after booting a record-equalling 11 last round.
Hamish Gilmore blanketed Minogue and Jake Page was equally effective in limiting the impact of in-form North Albury coach Tim Broomhead.
Murphy was also reported for engaging in rough conduct in the match.
North Albury trailed by five points at quarter time before taking the upper hand with three goals to one in the second to lead by eight points at halftime.
Albury veteran Brayden O’Hara booted three goals for the Tigers and ruckman Isaac Muller was also in the best players against one of his former clubs.
Meanwhile, in the other Ovens and Murray league Anzac Day match, Wodonga Raiders slumped to another big loss in going down to Wodonga Bulldogs by 73 points.
Midfielder Noah Bradshaw, the son of former Brisbane premiership player Daniel, starred for Wodonga as did dual club best and fairest winner Josh Mathey.
WIMMERA
Horsham Demons star recruit Ryan Kemp has featured prominently in their 21-point win over Horsham Saints in the Wimmera league’s Anzac Day encounter.
The 2018 Toohey Medal winner and dual premiership player returned to the Demons this season from stints with Werribee and Swan Districts.
Kemp booted three goals and was an important player in the win alongside ruckman Billy Carberry, Hugo Papst and Brody Pope.
Papst joined the Demons this season from Ballarat league club Sebastopol.
The only downer for the Demons was a hamstring injury to Brad Hartigan before halftime.
HAMPDEN
Hamilton has climbed to the edge of the Hampden league top-five following a 61-point pumping of Portland in their Anzac Day clash.
The Kangaroos held an even bigger lead of 73 points at halftime after a 12-goal to one opening two quarters.
Captain Darcy Russell finished with seven goals in the Kangaroos second win of the season that has lifted them to sixth spot on the ladder with three matches to be played on Saturday to complete the round that began with a Good Friday encounter, between reigning premier South Warrnambool and Koroit.
Hamilton is one win ahead of Warranambool and Port Fairy, which both play on Saturday against Camperdown and Cobden respectively.
The Hampden league has a bye the following round due to the three-day Warrnambool racing carnival next week.
Decision made on country footy battler’s home
A country footy side on one of the state’s longest losing streaks has found out what competition it will be in next year. Here is what we know.
Country club emerges from recess to potentially join major new league
A country footy club, home to former AFL star Barry Hall, could emerge from recess in 2025 after moving a step closer to joining one of the state’s biggest leagues. Here is what we know.