“It’s the most exciting thing the netball program’s had for over a decade,” netball president Katie Rasmussen said.
It’s a huge statement, going hand in hand with three statements of intent — the triple signing of Gabrielle Dwyer, Jordyn Adams and Matilda Lethlean.
Those following the Victorian Netball League won’t need much introduction to Dwyer.
The defender is Casey Demons’ captain, won their MVP this year and has also been in the Collingwood reserves program and earned Melbourne Vixens Academy selection.
Adams is Dwyer’s Demons teammate and aids the Rochy rearguard as a defensive-minded midcourter.
She also brings winning DNA, having previously enjoyed a championship with home state South Australia at 19-and-under level.
Adding to the championship-level experience is Lethlean, a versatile attacker who won consecutive flags with Woodend-Hesket in 2023 and 2024.
So how did Rochester, a side which won only three games in 2026 — and has long struggled in Goulburn Valley League netball — attract such talent?
Well, sometimes everything just falls into place.
“Our new football coach Marty Hore, Matilda is his sister-in-law,” Rasmussen said.
“Matilda’s been the catalyst.
“Marty’s wife Bonnie told him he should talk to Matilda and then Matilda thought Jordan would be an excellent addition for the club and then Jordan said the same about Gabrielle.
“So it was just the perfect domino — Matilda started it and then Jordan ran with it and got Gabby on board.”
Having such a connection at your disposal helps, but there has to be an appetite to use it effectively.
Rasmussen said the sudden shift in Rochy’s ambition was sparked at an event in May.
“I think where we changed our thinking and started believing in what we’re doing was at the Supporters Day in Melbourne,” she said.
“Our president Justin Cleary got up and said that his aspiration is for A-grade to be playing finals and ultimately winning a premiership in the foreseeable future.
“So it started that next level of conversation about our goals.”
Of course, any president or senior club official can simply get up and publicly express hope for greater success.
But for the Rochy A-graders, it wasn’t just about Cleary’s words.
It was also about the collective desire to see more wins on the court.
“A lot of the older males in the crowd were going up to the likes of Tia Webb, Charlee Roulston and Morgan Dingwall and saying how they want the girls to be successful and have success in netball as well as football,” Rasmussen said.
“To have those guys come up and say that meant a lot to them.”
Those hopes have certainly moved closer to being realised.
To quote Rasmussen, the club is “expecting a much more competitive” 2027 — the end goal presumably being a long-awaited finals appearance.
It also seems the recruitment drive is not quite done.
“We're hopeful of adding more, but there's nothing set in stone,” Rasmussen said.
Would any further additions boast a similar playing resume to the new trio?
“The next one on our list probably has a similar CV to what we’ve recruited,” Rasmussen said.
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