Glory Days

After going back to back premiers in 2013 Albury Thunder set themselves to achieve the unthinkable in 2014 - three in a row under the coaching of Josh Cale and the astute leadership of President Rick O’Connell - with time running out in the preliminary final the dream looked over ---- until something clicked and Thunder got on a roll that continued into the following week in a remarkable grand final performance that smashed records as the Triple Treat was achieved in Rugby Leagues greatest achievement on the border city of Albury.

In between both World Wars the season of 1928 was to be one of the most tumultuous in the history of the OMFL with the bitter religious divide in Albury spilling onto the football fields and streets of Albury - amongst it all were some of the absolute greats of the Albury FC and the OMFL - the Bunton brothers Haydn arguably the greatest ever player in Australian Rules history and Cleaver who would go on to be a legend of Albury with his civic devotion and sporting administration - the year the Tigers broke the St Patricks premiership dominance - enjoy Tiger Tales 1928  “Times of War”

Henty had last tasted premiership success in 1937 - they had made it through to five grand finals since then but had come up short on each occasion - they were into its fifth year in the Hume FL and they had found a new coach in Wayne Styles are hardnosed and fearless leader who guided the Swampies to a season of excellence that was challenged right at the end - they dug deep and found a way to bring home the premiership cup and break a 47 year drought - enjoy Henty 1984 “The Drought Breaker”

The 1984 season was the third since amalgamation of Grong Grong-Matong and Ganmain in the Riverina Football League - from day one the GGGM Lions plan was a premiership in the third year - Ray “Rocky” O’Connor was also into his 3rd year as coach - the Lions had a 50% win/loss ratio in the first two years - couple of handy recruits a group of passionate and hungry players the Lions were ready to roar and roar they did in one of country footballs great grand final finishes - this is “The Merger - Signed Sealed Delivered”.

This episode picks up the Albury Tigers season from round three as the players and club adjust to the traumatic experience in round one - it shows the strength of James McQuillan in his rehab, it shows the strength of a community and it shows the strength of a playing group to fight on for a teammate and friend as the season finishes in yet another epic Albury v Yarrawonga grand final.

Holbrook were into its sixth season since joining the Hume FL, they had made two grand finals with no ultimate prize, Albury triple premiership player Marc Duryea was back for his 4th year as coach - he wanted one thing and one thing only - a Holbrook premiership that had so far eluded him - they trained harder, they played harder and they got their prize - they paid the price.

2014 in the Ovens and Murray FL was one of the toughest to endure for the Albury Tigers - it finished with a they won a premiership but in round one they lost a young man James McQuillan in an accident that made James a quadriplegic - this episode is dedicated to james and his family capturing his amazing fightback to a fulfilling life with amazing support from community, family and his loyal friends at the Albury Football Club.

A football team from Pleasant Hills - yep we all knew it had a pub but a football team! ! Yes for fifty years the Hillites competed despite  two World Wars, a pandemic after WW1 called the Spanish Flu and the Great Depression between world wars - success was rare with just one premiership - they gave it everything until there was nothing left to give 1905 to 1955 - it’s a bloody good story - The Last Point Post

The year was 1997 and Albury after back to back premierships in 1995 and 96 had a new coach with Michael Buchanan taking over from Paul Spargo - Mikki as he was known was one of Spargo’s trusted foot soldiers - a hard nut on field and a loveable larakin off field Buchanan and his band of men stuck it up the doubters who gave the Tigers no chance after losing eight premiership players - they loved success and knew what it took to achieve success taking Albury to its first ever triple premiership and into club folklore - enjoy Tiger Tales 1997 “The Incredible Treble”.

The Albury Tigers have won 22 premierships in the Ovens and Murray FL – it all started way back at the turn of the 20th century – this episode takes a historical look back at the first three premierships and just what it was like playing football at the time as Albury celebrated their 1902, 1908 and 1913 flags with names synonymous to the Albury club and league were emerging.