Marty Hore worked closely with outgoing coach Ash Watson throughout 2026. Photos: Bruce Povey.
A new era has dawned at Rochester.
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After a successful four-year stint under Ash Watson, which saw the Tigers reach the 2025 final, former Melbourne Demon Marty Hore has taken the senior reins, and wants to bring Rochy all the way to a flag.
“Goal is to win a premiership,” Hore said.
“A bit of a disappointing year this year to not make finals but hopefully that drives the group, makes them hungry so they want to get back there.”
Hore signed on with Rochester last season as a player, but missed all but the final three games of the season with a long-term knee complaint.
It allowed the defender to work closely with Watson on the sidelines for much of the year, and get familiar with the playing group.
“Ash has got a very good knowledge of the group,” Hore said.
“He's coached for four years, so (I was) just learning about the group and the sort of footy that suits our playing list.
“I think it'd be quite hard for a coach if this is my first year at Rochy and I'm taking over and trying to learn the players, how they play, their movements and what type of player they are.
“To work under him for a year and get great insight into their team list and players from his knowledge, it was great this year to get that under my belt.
“Going into next year, it gives me a little bit of a head start.”
Moving into the top job was always on the cards for Hore, with Watson indicating to the club that this season would likely be his last during the previous off-season.
So when Hore signed on, a transition to coaching was part of the plan.
“Luckily enough (I've) had some great mentors, played with some great players, worked with great players so (I’ve) got quite a bit of knowledge now from my time down there,” he said.
“I think it's something I always wanted to do, get into that coaching aspect, and I did a little bit of that down at Melbourne when I was injured and helped in the VFL coaching the back line.
“(It's) a little bit of a passion to help players get better.”
Rochester has made defence its signature under Watson and the 2025 grand final side boasted the most constrictive backline in the GVL.
A 20-game AFL defender himself, Hore said that defensive philosophy wouldn’t be lost in a Tigers side he’s leading.
“I do like my defence, obviously playing in the back line pretty much my whole senior career, so that'll be a staple for us as a group,” he said.
“I think we've got a great group of personnel down there, (but) probably didn't quite have the year we wanted to this year.
“We had a bit of injury, quite a few changes each week which I'm hoping next year we can get a bit of continuity with that back six or back seven and get them gelling well and playing regular football together.
“As a back line, that's what you need, to learn how each other play and have a consistent group playing down there.”
Hore clears his lines from defence against Shepparton Swans in August.
The Tigers have suffered some losses in the past week, with Cooper and Hugh Hamilton, and Mitch Bright all signing on with Colbinabbin, and Hore said he would be looking to add talent in the midfield and up forward.
Hoping to bring some things to the group he has picked up from his time in Melbourne, Hore now has an off-season to try and shape the squad into a title-winner.
“(Rochester's) just a great community club (with) like-minded people, farmers, similar to my home club of Leitchville-Gunbower,” he said.
“They're a really good fit.
“While I was in Melbourne, they pursued me pretty hard for quite a few years and ultimately the year before I signed they made the grand finals, so the boys have been close, but I'd like to come to Rochy and help them win a premiership.”
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