Tigers move to second on ladder

By Rohan Aldous

May 2, 2022

Strong hands: Rochester is now second on the ladder after four Goulburn Valley League matches. Mathoura recruit Isacc Johnson was again among the goalkickers in the 42-point win against Shepparton United. Photo: Bruce Povey. Photo by Bruce Povey

Rochester has moved to second on the Goulburn Valley League ladder after its second “final siren’’ win of the season at Deakin Reserve, against Shepparton United, on Saturday.

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After four rounds the Tigers are credited with 12 premiership points, courtesy of wins against Tatura and United, along with the four premiership points they were gifted courtesy of a GVL board decision to take four premiership points from Echuca.

That decision was taken as a result of a round one administrative error when the Murray Bombers beat Rochester by almost 10 goals. It is being challenged by Echuca, which could impact on the Tigers’ place on the ladder — if that appeal is successful.

Shepparton United remains winless this season, the Tigers’ 16.18 (114) to 11.6 (72) win leaving the Deakin Reserve co-tenant on the second bottom rung of the ladder.

Rochester was without Steve Stroobants on the weekend, with sore ribs, but he is expected to return this weekend.

Rochester faces the one team below United on the ladder this weekend, Benalla, which has a percentage of just 30.11 from its four defeats.

Benalla’s best performance this season came when it lost by just one point to Tatura, which the Tigers beat by 132 points, in round two. In its remaining three matches it has suffered defeats of 123 (Seymour), 113 (Mansfield) and 95 (Kyabram) points.

In its three defeats this season Benalla has kicked a total of just nine goals and had 60 goals scored against.

Rochester’s 10-goal opening half against Shepparton United on Saturday was the catalyst of its victory, with both teams kicking six goals in the second half.

The Tigers led by 32 points at half-time, inaccurate kicking costing them a more significant winning margin, as they converted only six of 17 shots on goal in the second half.

United kicked 6.1 to Rochester’s 6.11 in the second half, as the Tigers eventually finished 42-point winners.

Rochester is second on the ladder to Mooroopna, which turned several heads on the weekend when it scored its fourth successive win of the season, against Seymour.

That 43-point win leaves it as the only unbeaten — albeit controversially, with Echuca’s round one appeal pending — team in the competition.

Mooroopna has Tatura this weekend, before facing Euroa, then Benalla. It could be seven-nil to open the season if results go as expected.

For Rochester the next three weeks are vital, as it faces a testing month between rounds 8 and 13. Wins against Benalla, Shepp Swans and Shepp Bears will be vital in preparation for a significantly tougher period to follow.

It faces Echuca for the second time in round eight, then in successive weeks following that match has Seymour, Euroa, Kyabram, Mooroopna and Mansfield.

It will be relying on the form of Chris Jansen continuing; successive best-on-ground displays pointing towards a big season for the slick-moving centreman.

The former Shepp United player pushed forward again on Saturday to kick three goals.

He has hit the scoreboard in all four games this season and sits third behind Steve Stroobants (10) and Mitch Cricelli (9) with seven goals for the four-week-old season.

Cricelli was brilliant with his marking, and conversion, on Saturday.

His six-goal haul was his best return for the Tigers, in the absence of Stroobants.

Cricelli’s supply was consistent through the midfield work of Lachlan and Jordan Harper; the winger brothers are enjoying a good start to the season with the Tigers.

The Rochester draw is in four distinct blocks, a tough start (Echuca and Kyabram), then a series of winnable games, an even tougher six weeks and then five winnable matches to end the season.

Selector Ash Watson said the team wasn’t overly happy with how it played on the weekend, but walked away with only the one injury concern — Nathan Moroney forced from the ground early in the opening quarter.