They are known for having the fiercest rivalry in the Western Region Football League.
And that will just add more spice to this weekend’s blockbuster clash between Albion and Sunshine.
It will be the 30th anniversary of the day the Cats secured initial bragging rights over their local rivals.
In 1985, the two squared off for the first time in a WRFL division 1 grand final, producing a typically hard-fought match that went down to the wire.
On that day it was the Cats who came out on top, winning by 15 points to claim its first premiership for 20 years.
To mark the occasion, Albion will be holding a players’ reunion on Saturday, just before another instalment of the famous rivalry.
Wayne Finco has played at both clubs throughout his career and was at the Cats for the 1985 flag.
He said the rivalry had always been incredibly strong.
“I had three years at Sunshine so I’ve seen it from both sides. You could call it a heated rivalry, but it’s more like a deep hatred.
“I think it’s just because we’re located so close together.
“It’s always been tough on the ball. I can’t remember too much off-the-ball stuff, but it was always a hard, physical contest.”
Highlighting just how strong Albion’s list was at the start, the Cats returned the following year to defend their premiership win.
This time it was a 39-point margin against Wembley Park.
It remains the only time in Albion’s history that it’s won back to back division 1 premierships.
Finco said the club had done some smart recruiting back then.
“There were a lot of guys that we’d brought into the club. They were some big-name players – icons back then.”
While the 1985 clash remains the only time Sunshine and Albion have met in a division 1 grand final, the two clubs have played each other in a division 2 decider.
That was in 1994, with the Cats again coming out on top, winning by 37 points.
Although neither club has contested a grand final since 2010, that hasn’t stopped the modern-day players embracing the old rivalry.
Finco said while a lot of the players were good friends off the field, there was always that extra toughness in an Albion-Sunshine clash.
“A lot of the current-day players are mates, and they all know each other,” he said.
“The young guys always hear the stories about what we used to be like.
“They’re always great games when we come up against Sunshine.”
Both sides go into this week’s clash seeking their first win of the new season.
Albion’s 2015 campaign got off to a tough start last week, a loss to Port Melbourne Colts by 20 points: 12.22 (94) to 11.8 (74).
The Cats showed strong fight throughout the contest, coming back from 20 points down at half-time to cut the margin to two points at the start of the final term.
But the Colts had too much fire power, booting three final-quarter goals to one to seal the win.
After missing the finals for the past three years, Albion president Gavan Taylor said his side would continue to promote its youth policy through the season.
“I think we’re in a position where we will do a little better than last year but probably not as good as we would like,” Taylor said.
“We’ve used our kids for the last two to three years. They are all 18, 19 and 20 years old and they just need some games under their belt.”
Saturday will bring Sunshine’s first official run of the new season.
The Kangaroos had a bye in the first round after the demotion of Parkside from division 1 to division 3.
The match will be Sunshine coach Brendan Hallinan’s first experience of the long-standing club rivalry and a real test for the forward-looking young team.
Hallinan replaced Brett Jacobs in the off-season in the coach’s chair.
Sunshine president Craig Ryan says he’s rapt with the way Hallinan has settled into the club.
“Brendan has had the boys since November and they’re responding to his methods and his plans and all that sort of stuff really well,” Ryan said.
It will be a slightly different-looking Kangaroos outfit taking the field this season with star midfielder Russell Douglas moving to the Heathcote District Football League.
Albion and Sunshine will square off at JR Parsons Reserve from 2.15pm on Saturday.
The Cats’ past players’ activities begin at 1pm.
Albion v Sunshine … a recent history
Round 17 – 2014
Sunshine 15.14 (104) defeated Albion 7.6 (48)
Patrick Wiggins was outstanding in this rivalry match last season at JR Parsons Reserve. The key forward booted a bag of seven goals to lead his team to victory. He was well supported by Russell Douglas, who was among the Kangaroos’ best players. For Albion, James Thompson was impressive with three goals.
Round 8 – 2014
Sunshine 16.16 (112) defeated Albion 6.9 (45)
A goalless first half cost the Cats any chance of getting one over their rivals when the pair first met in 2014. Sunshine took the advantage and ran with it, piling on eight first quarter goals to secure a 50-point lead at half-time. Although it was a more competitive second half, the damage was done and the points went to Kinder Smith Reserve.
Round 10 – 2013
Sunshine 12.15 (87) defeated Albion 12.11 (83)
It was another classic between the Kangaroos and Cats at the mid-point of the 2013 WRFL season. Despite occupying opposite ends of the ladder, the lower ranked Albion took the fight right up to Sunshine, holding a nine-point lead at three-quarter time.
Thomas Millar and Russell Douglas proved the difference, with both having big last quarters to lift Sunshine to the win.
