THREE cups worth of talent, a few spoonfuls of effort and aggression and a hint of class sprinkled on top.
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If you could bottle it, you’d be the richest man in Border football circles.
Whatever Albury’s secret recipe to winning crunch games is — it keeps on working.
Again, again and again.
The Tigers just don’t lose when it counts.
Aside from a shock loss here, and the odd defeat to fierce rival Yarrawonga there, Albury has had a near-on mortgage on the Ovens and Murray’s premier fixtures for the past half decade.
Especially at home.
That didn’t change yesterday against North Albury.
The 43-point win, the Tigers’ fifth in a row over the Hoppers on Anzac Day, was every bit as convincing as the Tigers’ triumph in the same game in 2009.
They’ve got and had close to the best list in all of those years, sure, but that doesn’t always guarantee sustained success.
Coach Daniel Maher said the reason for the club’s continued dominance when it mattered was simple.
“There’s no real secret to it,” Maher said.
“We just expect high things internally.
“We’ve got an emphasis at the club at the moment that you’ve just got to play your role.
“We just want everyone to play that simple role and if we can hold our structures, more often than not, we’re in with a show.”
And that’s what the Tigers did for the majority of yesterday’s contest.
They controlled it.
They won the individual battles that counted and made the opposition pay dearly for failing to capitalise on their chances.
Sound familiar?
Chris Hyde was sensational, Matt Fowler reliable and Lonnie Hampton electric around the ball.
Joel Mackie was his imposing self and Maher directed his troops down back.
Will Smith’s job on Adam Prior was match-defining, as were the performances of Charles Gaylard, Josh Robinson and John Mitchell across half-forward.
The Tigers got off to a flyer — kicking three of the game’s first four goals — and brushed off a late charge from the Hoppers when they gained their share of momentum.
We’ve seen it countless times from the Tigers before.
And they should only get better, too, with Luke Packer missing half the game, Michael Thompson (knee) a late withdrawal and Matt Shir and Andy Carey both watching on from the sidelines.
The signs are ominous, once again.
Not that we expected it to be any different.
The Hoppers, meanwhile, were beaten comfortably but it’s far from doom and gloom for Jason Akermanis and his crew.
There were similarities between the Hoppers yesterday and Wangaratta Rovers in a similar game early last year.
We all know how that panned out for the Hawks.
“The wheel will turn,” Akermanis said. “I know it will. We’ve just got to hang in there.”
