Rochester has arrived in a big way.
The Tigers turned significant heads in knocking off the often-unstoppable Echuca two weeks ago — but to paraphrase a common NFL saying, ‘any given Saturday’, right?
Undeterred by thoughts this was a mere aberration, Rochester would repeat the dose last weekend with a commanding victory over a free-scoring Mooroopna outfit.
Perhaps now, at last, after storming home in the final term to overcome perennial finals fancies Euroa, this hat-trick of Goulburn Valley League scalps could make Rochester an undeniable threat.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, it was usual standout Mitch Cricelli who provided the late heroics with what would go down as the sealer for his third goal of the day.
Though the Tigers would nab two of the game’s first three goals, Euroa went about normal business late on in the first term by rattling off three straight to sit pretty at quarter-time.
Rochester had things on its own terms everywhere but the scoreboard for most of the second term before the switch finally flicked, piling on four majors heading into the sheds capped off by a Cricelli double.
The thing about Euroa is that blowing out such a side is rare indeed — and for good reason — so it again became the Tigers’ turn to weather the storm in the third term.
Dashing winger Silver Yousif again got some time in the forward rotation and made his time inside 50 count with ruthless efficiency, notching three consecutive goals to put the Magpies up once more with a quarter to play.
Again having to play catch-up, Sean Williams stood up as a model of consistency with a goal in each quarter, none more important than his game-high fourth to level the scores with minutes remaining.
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Solid grab: Rochester's Dillon Williams. Photo by BrucePoveyPhotos.com 2022Image 2 of 8
Breaking free: Rochester's Andy Henderson. Photo by BrucePoveyPhotos.com 2022Image 3 of 8
None shall pass: Rochester's Matt Kellett is tackled. Photo by BrucePoveyPhotos.com 2022Image 4 of 8
Under pressure: Rochester's Mitch Cricelli. Photo by BrucePoveyPhotos.com 2022Image 5 of 8
Get the kick away: Rochester's Mitch Cricelli. Photo by BrucePoveyPhotos.com 2022Image 6 of 8
Down they go: Euroa's Will Hayes is brought to ground. Photo by BrucePoveyPhotos.com 2022Image 7 of 8
Snap for goal: Rochester's Mitch Trewhella. Photo by BrucePoveyPhotos.com 2022Image 8 of 8
What a grab: Euroa's Andrew Smith. Photo by BrucePoveyPhotos.com 2022Cricelli brought the house down with the killer blow to notch a highly memorable third win on the bounce, lifting the Tigers to the heights of third place with a 5-2 record following a memorable 10.10 (70) to 8.16 (64) triumph.
Where to next, then, for a Rochester outfit which has firmed as credentialled giant-slayers across the past three weekends?
The Tigers’ next assignment is a trip south to play a new-look Seymour, where the visitors will likely go in as favourites for the first time in nearly a month.
The Magpies, meanwhile, have fallen out of finals places in crashing to a 4-3 record, trailing sixth-placed Kyabram on percentage.
In one of the more difficult clashes to pick on paper next weekend, Ryan Pendlebury’s side will welcome Mansfield to Friendly Societies Oval for a south side clash.