Albury 4.3, 7.7, 13.9, 13.10.88
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Yarrawonga 3.2, 5.3, 10.7, 12.11.83.
Goals: Albury: Jacob Conlan 4, Jacob Page 2, Harry Cameron 1, Fletcher Carroll 1, Daniel Cross 1, Jeff Garlett 1, Brayden O’Hara 1, Lachlan Taylor- Nugent 1, Jessy Wilson 1.
Yarrawonga: Leigh Williams 4, William Wheeler 3, Jack Forge 1, Nicholas Fothergill 1, Bailey Frauenfelder 1, Michael Gibbons 1, Tim Lawrence 1.
Best: Albury: Lucas Conlan, Brydan Hodgson, Jacob Conlan, Fletcher Carroll, Isaac McGrath, Jessy Wilson.
Yarrawonga: Mark Whiley, Logan Morey, Nicholas Fothergill, Leigh Masters, Jack Sexton, Harrison Wheeler.
The Yarrawonga Pigeons have come agonizingly close to victory after trailing by as much as 41 points to the Albury Tigers at the Albury Sports Ground on Saturday afternoon.
Star recruit Michael Gibbons and the returning Jack Sexton were welcomed inclusions into the side for the rivalry clash.
Recruit of the season Leigh Williams kick-started the Pigeons immediately, marking deep inside 50 and booting two goals within the first 5 minutes of the game.
Williams, after only playing three games heading into this one against Albury, unbelievably lead the competition in contested marks with 22.
In slippery conditions, the Pigeons were able to control the ball and use it effectively moving forward which has become a real feature of their game. Nick Fothergill demonstrated this when he cleverly found Gibbons with a beautiful long kick inside 50.
Gibbons, with precision, ran around onto his left to slot through his first in the blue and white hoops and suddenly, the Pigeons had the first three of the game.
However, as we’ve seen frequently this year, teams have been able to hit back hard and fast as Albury began to get on top around the ball though the likes of Daniel Cross and Anthony Miles.
Four unanswered goals giving the Tigers a 7-point lead at the first change.
In a goal for goal battle early in the second term, the Pigeons were able keep in touch with majors to Fothergill and Jack Forge.
However, the Tigers would gain the upper hand, breaking away to take a 16-point lead into half time.
Coach Whiley remained poised at the main break however demanded a response from his forward group, pleading with them to lift their work rate and pressure as the Tigers half backs were having it on their terms in the first half.
In an immediate response, Bailey Frauenfelder took it upon himself to inject some life into the game with a classy check side goal from the pocket.
A Willie Wheeler major to reduce the margin even further followed Frauenfelder’s goal. However, a complete momentum shift occurred almost immediately, as the Albury Tigers piled on five goals in quick succession to lead by 41 points with the O&M Live commentary calling curtains on the Pigeons at that point.
Deep into the third quarter, facing a huge deficit, the leaders for the Pigeons decided enough was enough.
Mark Whiley injecting himself into the midfield and Willie Wheeler up forward were the two to lead the charge, both booting majors in the dying minutes of the quarter.
A set shot on the three-quarter time siren to Leigh Williams saw him boot his third, the margin was back to 20 points, and the Pigeons belief had re-ignited.
A moment of individual brilliance from Williams in the opening minutes of the final quarter was just what the doctor ordered for the Pigeons. A one-hand pluck against the boundary line 50 metres out and goal reduced the margin to just 14 points.
From this, the Pigeons produced some inspired football, peppering the Albury defence with countless inside fifties.
Harry Wheeler, Jack Sexton, Nick Fothergill, Mark Whiley, Leigh Masters and Logan Morey were all playing a huge role in their attempts to drag the Pigeons over the line.
A stoppage deep inside the Pigeons fifty saw Kyal Tyson follow up his ruck work, hand off to Tim Lawrence who then found Willie Wheeler.
Wheeler with ultimate poise and class slotted through his third of the day on his left boot and got it back to a 7-point ball game.
With more than enough time on the clock to steal victory, the Pigeons failed to make the most of their entries, squandering numerous chances in front of goal, which would eventually prove costly.
The final siren sounding and the Tigers prevailing by a narrow 5 points in another epic clash between two long-time rivals.
The Pigeons now head back home to the JC Lowe Oval to take on the Wodonga Raiders.
Reserves
Albury 4.3.27 defeated by Yarrawonga 14.10.94.
The Pigeon Reserves have completely overwhelmed the Albury Tigers in an impressive team performance at the Albury Sports Ground.
Although taking 10 minutes to find their feet early after Albury booted the first two goals, the Pigeons dominated the Tigers across all four quarters in the 67-point victory.
The Pigeons were able to identify a mismatch and use it to their advantage as veteran Ross Mulquiney remarkably booted the team’s first four goals of the game.
The on-ball brigade was on fire in the middle of the ground. Ruckman Alex Byrne was influential along with Xavier Leslie, Jordan O’Dwyer, and Doug Arnold who all relished the slippery conditions. The Pigeons were able to adapt to the conditions quickly, surging the ball forward, which enabled them to gain repeat stoppages in their forward half.
The forward line of the Pigeons reaped the rewards on the back of high work rate and pressure to keep the ball inside 50.
Matt McCabe played his best game for the season, using his attributes to his advantage working up and down the ground to work over his opponent.
McCabe caused big headaches for the Tigers defence booting four majors in a best on ground display.
Jacob Adkins was lively as a high half forward. Adkins ability to use his pace to get to the fall of the ball has and will continue to be a big asset for the Pigeons.
The defence for the Pigeons led by Co-Captain Cory Pearn remained strong throughout the entire day. The back six were well organised and prepared to defend any ball that came their way.
The clear highlight of the day for the Pigeons was when Judd Hooper marked inside 50 on an extremely tight angle.
Hooper, with extreme poise, nailing though the goal of the day, which in turn went ‘viral’ on social media.
The victory to the Pigeons gives them some breathing space in second position on the ladder with every game from this point vital to their top three aspirations.
Goals: Matt McCabe 4, Ross Mulquiney 4, Xavier Leslie, Tanner Nyholm 2, Jacob Adkins, Judd Hooper 1.
Best: Matt McCabe, Jordan O’Dwyer, Xavier Leslie, Cory Pearn, Ross Mulquiney, Reed Bonat.
Thirds
Albury 13.13.91 defeated Yarrawonga 1.6.12.
The Yarrawonga Thirds have suffered a big defeat at the hands of top of the table Albury Tigers in wet, slippery conditions at the Albury Sports Ground.
In a match up where the Pigeons were clearly undermanned and undersized, the team still managed to fight the game out in good spirits all the way until the final siren.
Two stand out performers for the Pigeons were Oscar Elliot and Noah Iddles. The pair were extremely clean with their skills in the wet conditions and could hold their heads high with strong performances throughout the four quarters.
Brendan Ryan played another strong game and has been doing so throughout the course of the season whilst Hunter Surrey stood tall showing strong leadership, always remaining upbeat despite the result.
Missed opportunities in front of goals was disappointing in the eyes of Coach Frauenfelder and it is something they would like to tidy up moving forward into the season.
The loss sees the Pigeons slip out of the top five, now needing to win games against teams above them if they want to play finals this season.
The next fortnight of games against third place Wodonga Raiders and fourth placed Wangaratta Magpies are going to make or break the Pigeons in season 2022.
Goals: Hunter Frauenfelder 1.
Best: Oscar Elliott, Noah Iddles, Brendan Ryan, Hunter Surrey, Ethan Byrne, Harry Nagle.
Yarrawonga Chronicle