Ovens and Murray: North Albury first victory in more than 1000 days

North Albury’s coach has stepped down after the battling footy club had its first win in more than 1000 days.

North Albury coach Luke Norman has stepped down from the role only 48 hours after the Ovens and Murray league club snapped a winless stretch dating back more than 1000 days.

Norman dropped the bombshell to players on Monday night citing increasing commitments with a transport-related business he operates in the northeast with former Victorian drug squad detective Paul Dale.

He said he could no longer juggle the time required to coach work in his expanding business.

“It’s growing pretty quickly and it’s just too hard doing both,” he said.

“You’ve got to spend 35 to 40 hours with football and I just don’t have the time.

“These players need more tutoring and I just had to make a decision.

“It would be unfair on the club and players if I continued.”

North Albury is expected to announce replacement coaches in the next 24 to 48 hours.

Luke Norman coached Sturt to a grand final in the SANFL before returning home to Wangaratta.

The Hoppers’ last win came midway through the 2019 season and the 23-point victory over Wodonga Raiders on Saturday ended a “shocker” first month of the season when they suffered four successive 100-point losses.

The drought breaking win moves North Albury off the bottom of the ladder with Raiders slumping into the wooden spoon position.

The win was particularly sweet for Norman with his son Carter kicking four goals including the final term sealer.

“We’ve been getting pounded,” Norman said.

“We thought we were a chance against Corowa, but the boys didn’t bring their game and we got beaten by 100 points.

“It was an emotional win, there were tears from players, board members and supporters.

“It makes you really appreciate what they are going through.”

Norman replaced Isaac Muller as North Albury coach in 2000 with Muller joining Wodonga Raiders last year and playing against his old club on Saturday.

The Hoppers’ biggest signing over the summer was former Collingwood player Tim Broomhead, who played at Mornington Peninsula Nepean league club Seaford last year.

Tim Broomhead joined North Albury this season after previously playing for Collingwood.

“He played quite well in the Albury and Wangaratta games and has just got elite skills on both sides of his body,” Norman said.

Also shining in the win was young key defender Sam Azzi, who pulled in 15 marks in the match.

“We’ve put him down back and he reads the game really well,” Norman said.

“He has got a good set of hands and is happy to put his body in awkward positions.”

Norman said a midweek players meeting had also been instrumental in the long overdue win.

“We saw it as a game we needed to get right,” he said.

“They were fantastic for four quarters and still made their mistakes and so forth.

“But we played direct football, through the corridor, switched and moved the ball really well into the forward line.”

The Hoppers jumped the Raiders in the first term and were never headed, with Isaac Campbell, Fletcher Ramage, Archer Gardiner and Will Maclean also prominent in the win.

The Raiders’ short-term chances of breaking the ice this season appear remote when they play Albury on the rebound from a last-round loss to Myrtleford followed by Wangaratta.

North Albury’s win will give it confidence of strong showings in its next two games against Lavington and Yarrawonga.

“We’re just focusing on what we can do over the next month,” Norman said.

“The last month was a bit of a shocker and the start of this month has been good.”

The Hoppers have been further buoyed by the signing of former St Kilda player Doultan Langlands late last week.