Returning from a disaster such as the October 2022 floods is never easy, yet Rochester Football Netball Club has come back in style, with teams hitting their stride during the 2024 season.
With three rounds remaining in the GVL competitions, here is a season in review of the multiple grades (excluding senior and A-grade sides) that make up the Rochester Football Netball Club.
Reserves
Despite a reasonably narrow loss in their opening game of the 2024 season against Benalla, the Tigers were able to readjust. They went on to win three games in a row against competitive sides Kyabram, Shepparton Bears and Tatura.
After a narrow loss to arch-rival Echuca in round five, the Tigers went on to dominate the competition, winning their next 10 games in a row. They are sitting second on the ladder with a 13-2 record.
They will have an opportunity to get revenge on Echuca in the second half of a split round 16 when they host the Murray Bombers on Saturday.
The Tigers will then play Mooroopna and Shepparton United in the remaining two rounds, respectively. Barring an upset, they should win their last couple of games before the finals.
Co-coach and captain Kane Moroney, Fraser Cleary, Elliott Taylor, Jacob Dingwall, Reed Hocking and Kyle Waters have been standouts for the side so far this season.
Coaches Phil Jobe and Moroney have turned the Rochester reserves’ sixth-place finish and first-round exit in the 2023 finals into a legitimate flag contender in 2024.
Under-18s
Rochester’s under-18 side started strong, comfortably winning its first two games of the season, before being dealt a humbling defeat by a strong Shepparton Bears unit in round three.
The Tigers have comfortably dispatched the weaker teams in the competition throughout the season, with triple-digit victories against Tatura twice and Benalla.
Yet, they have been narrowly bested against the stronger team in the competition, suffering under 30-point losses to Euroa, Seymour, Mansfield, Kyabram and Shepparton Bears in a rematch.
Yet, the Tigers look like a reasonable finals bet. They currently sit in fifth place on the ladder with a 9-6 record through 16 rounds of their season.
With three games left to play, they have a chance to separate from Mooroopna, which has the same record as them, with percentage splitting the difference.
The two will face off in round 17, which could be vital in determining who they will face in the finals.
Tobie Woodfine, Nate Rasmussen, Harrison Foster and Hunter Wileman have been stellar for the Tigers this season.
Coach Todd Woodfine’s side had improved upon its 2023 finish when it missed the finals, ending the season with an 8-10 record in eighth place.
This year, the young guns will be looking to make some noise in the finals and, hopefully, bring a flag back to Rochester.
Netball
B-grade
Rochester’s B-grade netball side has had a fantastic 2024 season so far. With three games remaining, it sits in third place with an 11-4 record behind Euroa and Mooroopna.
Like the other sides around the club, the Tigers began the season with a strong message, scoring more than 60 goals in both of their first two games.
After a setback to Shepparton Bears in round three, the girls realigned to claim competitive wins against Echuca and Mooropna before falling to flag favourite Euroa.
The Tigers are currently on a seven-game winning streak and will look to extend that to eight when they face Echuca on Saturday.
The attacking duo of Morgan Dingwall and Jarrenhey Webb have been potent for the Tigers this season.
The B-grade Tigers will look to go deep into the finals in 2024 and linger behind Euroa and Mooroopna as a possible flag dark horse this season.
B-reserve
Much like Rochester’s B-grade side, the B-reserves are having a terrific 2024 season thus far. They are currently second behind Seymour on the ladder.
They are a game and a couple of losses clear of third-placed Shepparton Bears and have a 12-3 record with three games remaining.
So far this season, their losses have only come from Benalla in round one, a narrow loss to Shepparton in round three and a humbling loss to competition favourite Seymour in round eight.
Outside of those minor blemishes on their record, the Tigers have managed to get it done against even more formidable opponents in the league.
An attacking core of Sahra Brooks, Shallon Webb, Ella McPhee and Rachel Whipp has been integral for the B-reserve side.
The Tigers will be confident they have a real shot at winning the ultimate prize come September, with the looming Lions standing in their way.
Under-17s
Rochester’s under-17s squad has been cruising so far in the 2024 season, currently sitting fifth in the standings with a 10-5 record.
The young Tigers have consistently performed well against the weaker teams in the competition, but they have also faced strong opponents who narrowly defeated them.
These include a four-point loss to Echuca in round five, a 10-point loss to Shepparton Swans in round 11 and a two-point loss to Shepparton Bears in round 14.
In saying that, the Tigers have also had their fair share of tight victories, particularly against Shepparton United in round nine.
Some standout players for the Tigers are Grace Moyle, Payton Tiller and Kaylah Moon.
The girls should be proud of their efforts and look to do some damage in the finals in three rounds’ time.