Charging forward: The Tigers’ 2023 best-and-fairest winner Joe Atley will be key to Rochester’s hopes again this season as it looks to improve on a 10th place finish last campaign.
Off the back of its 150 years’ celebration at the weekend, Rochester Football Netball Club is now looking ahead to a big Goulburn Valley League season.
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The 2023 AFL community club of the year will hope to add on-field successes to its off-field achievements, with its football and netball sides looking to make strides in the new campaign.
For the football side, 2023 was disappointing, finishing in 10th place with a 4-14 record, with the Tigers finishing second last in the league in kicking efficiency and centre clearances and last in defensive exit efficiency.
A recruiting drive has bolstered the ranks, highlighted by the top two best-and-fairest for Kangaroo Flat last season, Ryan O’Keefe and Mitch Trewella, as well as Bailey Boyack, who makes the move from Echuca United.
O’Keefe notched an appearance with the Sydney Swans’ VFL team in 2021 along with suiting up nine times for the Pioneers the same year and will be a key defensive addition for Rochy.
Returning to the field from the injured reserves list are Doug Wren and co-captain Nathan Marrone who each missed the entirety of last season.
Among the returning contingent is 2023 best-and-fairest Joe Atley, who was a bright spot for the Tigers in a disappointing season.
Atley led the team in disposals (averaging 30.5), contested possessions (16.5), marks (5.6), inside 50s (3.7) and clearances (8.4) in 2023.
Coach Ash Watson will need more strong performances from Atley and other incumbents, including Mitch Cricelli and last year’s leading goal-kicker Sean Williams, as he looks to integrate the new recruits into his system.
On the rise: Eloise Cuttriss’ Rochester netball side looks to make finals for the first time in two decades, after finishing seventh in 2023. Photo: Aidan Briggs
Photo by
Aidan Briggs
For the netball side, it was a more promising 2023 as the club’s 9-8-1 record saw it to a respectable seventh place as it was the only squad with a winning record to miss the finals.
The side is bolstered by the height of two-time Loddon Valley League premiership player and Bendigo league grand final winner Tia Webb, who will look to form a lethal combination with Bendigo Strikers representative Teal Hocking in the goal circle.
Coaches Linda Rasmussen and Rachel Whipp will be hoping this will be the year Rochester breaks its 20-year GVL netball finals drought.
Rochester’s football netball season begins with a visit to Benalla on April 6, before a home opener against Kyabram in a night game, the first hit-out for Moon Oval’s new lights, in round two on April 13.
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