Ovens and Murray: North Albury beats Wangaratta for first time since 2016

North Albury went into free fall following its most recent finals appearance in 2015. But with an undefeated start including a massive scalp the tide is turning.

North Albury is perfectly placed to play finals for the first time in almost a decade when it rolled premiership fancy Wangaratta by 10 points in the Ovens and Murray league on Saturday.

It hasn’t played finals since 2015 when coached by Jason Akermanis and was thrashed by the Brendan Fevola-coached Yarrawonga in an elimination final.

After finishing seventh in 2023, a resurgent North Albury has won its first two matches with Wangaratta its biggest scalp for many years.

It booted three goals to one in the final quarter after scores were level at three quarter time of a low-scoring match.

“It’s the fifth time I’ve played them and the first time we’ve been within 14 goals or so,” North Albury coach Tim Broomhead said.

“To win, and take a scalp like them, will do wonders for the group.”

North Albury last beat Wangaratta in 2016 in a result that leaves Wangaratta winless from the opening two rounds.

North Albury has heavily targeted the Riverina as part of its rebuild with former North Wagga forward Nathan Dennis booting five goals.

HAMPDEN

South Warrnambool downed North Warrnambool by 23 points in the Hampden league grand final replay with captain Shannon Beks booting five goals for the reigning premiers.

As was the case in the grand final last year, South jumped to an early lead and was never headed with an eight-goal blitz in the third term sealing the win.

Josh Saunders, Jed Henderson, Harry Lee and Myles McCluggage also played starring roles in the South win.

South Warrnambool coach Matt Battistello. Picture: Nicole Cleary

Former AFL player Nathan Vardy has taken over as coach of North Warrnambool this season and North Melbourne’s head of player development Michael Barlow played his first match for the club since 2019.

South began the season with a hard-fought Good Friday win over Koroit, which downed Warrnambool on Friday night.

GOULBURN VALLEY

A goal after the siren from key forward Chaz Sargeant sealed a three-point win for Tatura over Seymour in the Goulburn Valley league.

Tatura trailed the 2023 finalist by 11 points at three quarter time before booting four goals to two in the final term with Sargeat’s matchwinner one of the three goals for the game after experiencing some mid-match goal kicking yips.

Central Murray league recruit Jacob Simpson made an impressive debut in the ruck for Tatura with 2022 Morrison Medal winner Ben Rigoni named Seymour’s best player.

Shepparton Swans lost by three points to Euroa which was without Will and JD Hayes and Jack Hellier.

Mooroopna downed last year’s grand finalist Kyabram by eight points with the Bombers missing the services of star recruit Mick Mattingly.