Bears on the board: Numbers behind Shepparton’s first scalp

However, Rochester was able to gain the upper hand in a number of important statistical categories in the round four 17-point defeat at Deakin Reserve.

Everybody knows that if you are winning the ball at the coalface and in around the contest it goes a long way to claiming the four points.

But the Tigers smashed Shepparton in that area of the ground and struggled to get reward on the scoreboard.

Rochester won the hardball gets 60 to 23 and won the contested possessions by 22.

The Tigers, led by star on-baller Joe Atley, recorded 47 clearances and it was Atley who starred with 10.

Shepparton was more efficient when it came to scoring and finished the match with 46 per cent scoring from inside 50 entries.

Rochester coughed up 56 turnovers for the match with 22 coming inside its forward 50.

The Tigers will no doubt be left lamenting missed chances in the final term when the match was there to be won.

The Bears, with a lead of eight at the last break, withstood a fast-finishing Rochester.

The visitors went inside forward 50 16 times compared to Shepparton’s five and had a game-low 31 per cent scoring efficiency.

But the Bears’ defence held its own and rebounded the ball 14 times from defensive 50 in that last term.

Co-coach Xavier Stevenson was best-afield and he led from the front with seven disposals, two tackles and two rebound 50s in the fourth quarter.