Glory Days

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.

The year was 1959 and former Fitzroy legend Bill Stephen had the Pigeons primed for a tilt at its first ever OMFL premiership and to break a 32 year premiership drought – the biggest challenge was defending premier Wangaratta Rovers under Collingwood legend Bob Rose – they found away that thrilled a community and town in one of the all time grand finals.

On October 25th 2023 the sporting world and community of Walla Walla lost one of natures gentleman - Merv Wegener an absolute icon of the Hume Football netball league and the unofficial Mayor of Walla Walla - in November 2021 Merv was interviewed on 1494 2AY by Robbie Mackinlay - here is the interview as a tribute to Merv his family and his many admirers across the community.

Albury were on its knees after a loss in week one of finals their backs were to the wall ahead of its first semi-final showdown – they had injuries and suspensions and had be written off in the media – but they had a card up their sleeve and they were about to deal it they were also a resilient lot and came out to fight back – enjoy Part B of Tiger Tales 1996 – “Spargo’s Soldiers – Against All Odds”.

 The Tigers were on the hunt for back to back premierships in 1996,  gains outweighed the losses on the recruiting front – they had negotiated the home and away rounds with just two losses to finish second behind Lavington on percentage – a bizarre finals schedule, injuries, suspensions and a loss in week one of finals had the Tigers at the crossroads enjoy Part A of Tiger Tales 1996 – “Spargo’s Soldiers – Against All Odds”