Pre-season preparation: Nick O’Connor takes a leading role in the absense of Nathan Marrone and Nathan McCarty during Saturday’s practice match at Moon Oval between the Tigers and St Kevin’s Old Boys.
Difficult conditions and a powerhouse Victorian Amateur Football Association team meant a testing afternoon for Rochester in its practice match at Moon Oval on Saturday.
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The Tigers faced St Kevin’s Old Boys, the reigning premier of the VAFA’s Premier Division, in what is becoming a regular fixture between the clubs.
St Kevin’s won its grand final with Old Brighton by 22 points last season after finishing the home-and-away season on top of the ladder with a 15-3 record.
Extreme heat and strong wind made for a difficult assignment as the Tigers were still without several of their stars, including co-captains Nathan McCarty and Nathan Marrone, centre Doug Wren and ruckman Andy Henderson.
Marrone and Henderson both ran water on the afternoon, but will be important additions in the midfield.
The four will make a significant impact on the lineup, which is relying on several teenagers to fill important ball-carrying roles.
Lachie Watson, who is still negotiating with the club to play in 2023, and Charlie Palmer combined in the ruck.
Dylan Gordon from Elmore also played with the Tigers in defence, alongside Hamish Hooppell, Grant Fuller and Matt Kellett.
Rochester’s much-publicised off-season will end in three weeks when the team has its first home-and-away match in the Goulburn Valley League competition against Kyabram on April 8.
The club has made a significant effort to promote its My Shout membership campaign and the draw has worked in its favour in regard to drawing big crowds for those first two home matches at Rochester Recreation Reserve.
Facing its two nearest rivals Kyabram and Echuca, the latter — the reigning premier — on April 22, a big response to the club’s “call to arms’’ is expected during the initial stages of the season.
Rochester had a 12-6 win-loss season in 2022, finishing the year with five successive home-and-away season wins.
From its losing elimination final team the Tigers will be without several of its best-performed players of last season, including coach Steve Stroobants.
Also missing will be Jordan Harper, and brother Lachlan, best-and-fairest winner Shaun Atley, match-winning midfielder Christopher Jansen, Nathan Kay, Dan Russell, along with the injured Hugh Hamilton.
New coach Ash Watson is working with a young squad who look like using speed and slick ball use will be their trademark.
Key forward Mitch Cricelli played mostly in attack in the match against St Kevin’s, working in tandem with Sean Williams.
TIGERS HOME GAMES
GOULBURN VALLEY FOOTBALL LEAGUE
Round one - Saturday, April 8
(EASTER SATURDAY)
Rochester v Kyabram
Round two - Saturday April 22
Rochester v Echuca
Shepparton and Shepparton United will launch the 2023 Goulburn Valley League season when the Deakin Reserve co-tennants meet on Good Friday, April 7.
Other round one matches are: Benalla v Seymour, Echuca v Tatura, Mansfield v Euroa, Shepparton Swans v Mooroopna.
Livewire: Fleet-footed teenager Hugh Kerlin weaves his way through heavy traffic against the Premier League VAFA players from St Kevin’s.
Backbone: Hamish Hooppell was under constant pressure on the weekend against powerful Victorian Amateur Football Association team St Kevin’s Old Boys.
12°C