Come back: Former Rochester captain Nathan Marrone will be back in Tigers colours this season.
Photo by
Bruce Povey
Replacing dour ruckman Dan Russell tops the 2023 season wishlist for new Rochester coach Ash Watson and his recruiting committee as the Goulburn Valley league finalist aims to balance its list of outs with new faces.
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Russell has carried the weight of the Tigers ruck duties in recent seasons, but will next season be playing with Elmore in the Heathcote league.
Russell played all but one of the Tigers 19 games last season, the highly physical big-man averaging 15 disposals, 25 hit outs and almost four tackles a game.
His best game was against Shepparton in round seven when he kicked two goals (of only five for the season), had 18 disposals and 35 hit outs, to go with six clearances.
Russell and Nathan Kay, the latter who finished seventh in the best and fairest count, will play with Elmore next season.
The Tigers, in fact, have retained the services of only half of the top 10 in the best and fairest from last season as Shaun Atley (Sweden), Christopher Jansen (relocating to Torquay), Steve Stroobants (South Bendigo), Jordan Harper and Kay have all left the club.
Jansen and Harper were both top 10 in the GVL for disposals and Jansen had the third most clearances, despite missing the best part of three games.
Stroobants kicked 47 goals last season, three more than spring-heeled Mitch Cricelli, and Kay not only averaged 17 disposals, but almost a goal a game.
Cricelli will be the spearhead for the Tigers next year, returning from a knee injury after not playing the second half of the season.
Henderson showed his class in a 20-disposal, two-goal game against Seymour when he took 10 marks and pinch hit in the ruck.
Henderson kicked eight goals in his nine games last season.
Doug Wren has signed again with the Tigers, having injured his knee early in the opening game of the season against Echuca.
Wren is a former best-and-fairest winner at Tigerland and rejoined the club last year from Shepparton United. His knee operation was preceded by an ankle injury.
Nathan Marrone will also be back in yellow and black in 2023, a former captain of the club who will walk straight back into a leadership role.
Injury plagued: Doug Wren, a former best and fairest of the club, injured his knee in the opening round of the Goulburn Valley season. He will return in 2023.
Photo by
Bruce Povey
Joe Atley and Hugh Hamilton will carry a bulk of the midfield responsibility, Atley expected to be a star of the Goulburn Valley competition with his inside ball-winning ability.
The pair will be joined by Lockington Bamawn premiership player Jeremy “Jezza’’ Mundie, a skilful half-back flanker who was a member of last year’s Heathcote League Team of the Year.
Watson said Mundie had good foot skills and was a leader, which would assist the Tigers’ defence.
Matt Kellett, who played with the Tigers three years ago, will return this season and is also expected to take on a defensive post.
He has been attending university in Melbourne and, according to the new coach, completed some “tough assignments’’ for the team.
Rochester has started training and will continue twice a week, with a session every second Friday, during the off season.
