Ovens & Murray: North Albury aims to end 28-match losing streak to arch rival

After a 4-0 start to the season, could this be the year North Albury ends years of pain against Albury in this Anzac Day tradition?

North Albury’s early season charge up the Ovens and Murray league ladder faces its most serious examination on Anzac Day when the success-starved club takes on perennial powerhouse Albury.

After last playing finals in 2015, North Albury sits on top with a 4-0 record, but awaiting it on Thursday is the club it hasn’t beaten since Anzac Day 2008.

Albury has won the past 28 encounters against North Albury and every Anzac Day match between them from 2016 to 2022 finished in a 100-point plus win to Albury with last year’s match a 54-point victory to the Tigers.

Albury has won seven flags since last losing to North Albury, with the two clubs’ annual Anzac Day fixture starting in the late 1990s.

But heading into the latest showdown, North Albury is coming off a 131-point thrashing of Wodonga Raiders, only two years after the two clubs recorded one win each.

Runner-up last season, Albury has lost back-to-back matches against Lavington and Wangaratta Rovers, but will regain Morris Medallist Elliott Powell from a one-match suspension.

Brydan Hodgson misses again after a recurrence of a calf injury he suffered leading up to the season.

North Albury coach Tim Broomhead. Picture: Tim Petts

Former Collingwood player Tim Broomhead joined North Albury in 2022 and been coach for the past two seasons.

It was announced this week he would be staying in the role until 2026.

“Last year we played some good footy,” he said.

“It takes a little bit of time for that to gel, but with another pre-season and having seven wins from 16 games the club got some belief.

“We’ve started well, but we’ve got a long way to go.”

He said the club’s record against Albury was not “pretty viewing”.

“It’s something we’d like to change,” he said.

“It’s a game we want to really win and while it would be nice to beat a rival in Albury it would be equally nice to keep winning and building momentum.”

Albury’s Elliott Powell returns from a one-mach suspension for the Anzac Day clash against North Albury. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

North Albury won’t know until midweek whether it has the services of 190cm Murray Bushrangers-listed player Steve Murphy, who combined with Josh Minogue to kick 17 against Raiders, who must front up against arch rival Wodonga in another O&M Anzac Day encounter.

Hampden league clubs Hamilton Kangaroos and Portland are again playing on Anzac Day with Portland winning last year’s encounter, but yet to record a win in 2024.

Horsham Demons and Horsham Saints are backing up on Anzac Day from losses in the Wimmera league opening round.

St Joseph’s will be looking to extend its nine-match winning streak in Anzac Day matches against South Barwon in the Geelong league.

The resurgent Portarlington plays Drysale in the Bellarine league and Inverleigh and Bannockburn clash in the Geelong District league.