Josh Murphy stars in North Albury thrashing of Yarrawonga

A North Albury youngster who missed out on draft last year has sent another strong reminder about his talents. See the latest.

North Albury’s Josh Murphy backed up a best-on-ground display for the Ovens & Murray seven days earlier with an even bigger contribution against a teetering Yarrawonga on Saturday.

Murphy booted six goals in the O&M’s thumping 77-point win against Goulburn Valley and finished with 11 against Yarrawonga, which has slumped to eighth spot with only two wins approaching the halfway mark of the season.

Murphy had five goals before halftime when North Albury opened a matchwinning 58-point lead.

He inflicted more pain on the Pigeons in the second half with another six to complete a 94-pont rout which sent North Albury to second spot on the ladder behind reigning premier Wangaratta Rovers.

\Joshua Murphy followed up his starring role for Ovens & Murray with 11 goals for North Albury. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

Murphy’s previous best return at senior level was six against Wodonga Raiders early last year when he was also playing for the Murray Bushrangers.

Murphy has also played one match for Collingwood’s VFL team this year.

North Albury teammate Archer Gardiner makes his VFL debut for Werribee on Sunday after also playing a starring role with 27 possessions for the O&M last weekend.

Defender Julian Hayes and GV recruit Ben Rigoni were also prominent against Yarrawonga.

Key forward Josh Minogue returned from a broken thumb he suffered in round 1 to also boot three goals for North Albury which plays ninth-placed Corowa-Rutherglen next week.

EAST GIPPSLAND

Lucknow moved one match clear on top of the ladder after downing Stratford by 11 points in the battle of the two undefeated teams on Saturday.

Poor conversion in front of goals denied the Magpies an even bigger win after they led at every change.

Lucknow had 11 more scoring shots than Stratford as Jack Saulle starred along with former Bairnsdale pair Matt Corbett and Link McKenna.

McKenna booted two goals as did Brenden Flinn and Jake Richards for Lucknow, which lost to Boisdale-Briagolong in last year’s grand final.

Reigning league best and fairest Lachlan Channing was named best player for Stratford.

The top-four is close to settled after only seven rounds with Boisdale-Briagolong downing fifth-placed Orbost-Snowy Rovers by 46 points to open a two-match and big percentage gap between the two teams on the ladder.

MURRAY

Congupna recorded its sixth win by more than 100 points this season with Deniliquin the latest to feel the wrath of the Murray league premiers.

Since winning its first Murray league flag last year in a one-point thriller, The Road is untouchable in the opening eight rounds with another of its two victories being by 99 points.

Congupna blasted eight goals to one in the first term against Deniliquin and extended the margin to 76 points at halftime.

Ominously, The Road completed the demolition without 2024 century goalkicker Kyle Mueller, who booted six the previous week against one of its biggest flag threats, Cobram, which was beaten by 104 points.

Congupna’s James Boyer starred in another 100-point win on Saturday. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

In his absence the goalkicking load was shared with star onballer Billy Cooper booting four and ruckman Sam Buxton and Charlie Mellington, who didn’t play in the flag-winning team last year, kicked three each.

Jack Norman and James Boyer played starring roles for Congupna which has a massive percentage of 567.73.

Moama climbed to second spot on the ladder with a 15-point win against Cobram.