Impact player: Former Port Adelaide player Joe Atley will play for Rochester full-time this season after also captaining Essendon’s VFL side in 2022.
Photo by
Bruce Povey
FAST FACTS
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JOINED LEAGUE: 1913 to 1914, 1973-PRESENT NICKNAME: TIGERS HOMEGROUND: MOON OVAL COACH: ASH WATSON PRESIDENT: JUSTIN CLEARY PREMIERSHIPS: 1914, 1992, 1999, 2008 MORRISON MEDALLISTS: M. KEENAN (1988), P. MORGAN (1994), G. CAMPBELL (2011), A. WATSON (2015) 2022 FINISH: FOURTH (12-6) 2022 BEST-AND-FAIREST: SHAUN ATLEY 2022 LEADING GOAL-KICKER: STEVEN STROOBANTS (47)
PLAYER CHANGES
Ins: Jeremy Mundie (Lockington-Bamawm United) Bailey Wileman (Coburg Districts), Kane Moroney (Coburg Districts), Harrison McPhee (Coburg Districts), Sean Williams (Eaglehawk), Adrian Pappin (Marong), Matt Kellett (Geelong Amatuers)
Outs: Shaun Atley (Sweden), Steven Stroobants, Chris Jansen, Jordan Harper, Dean Russell
One of Rochester’s favourite sons is set to take over as senior coach in 2023 with club legend Ash Watson taking on the role.
Watson is taking over from Steven Stroobants and has been an assistant following his retirement in 2019.
A former Tigers premiership player, as well as a Morrison Medal winner and five-time Rochy best-and-fairest, Watson will be hoping to help the club return to premiership glory once again.
The Tigers battled their way to sixth on the ladder last year, before losing to Mooroopna in the elimination finals.
Watson said he believed Rochy could build on the foundations laid last season.
“We've definitely got a lot of upside with our list. We had a lot of guys miss with injuries last year, and those guys will be coming back at some stage,” Watson said.
“If we can keep improving, then we get all those guys back, we'll be pushing for sure.
"The Rochy footy club has played finals for as long as I can remember and we are keen to keep playing finals.“
Legend: Ash Watson in action for the Tigers back in his playing days.
Photo by
Bianca Mibus
Essendon VFL captain and 2022 best-and-fairest winner Joe Atley has committed to Rochy full-time this season, while Hugh Hamilton, who joined the club midway through last year, will also be back.
Bailey Wileman, Kane Moroney and Harrison McPhee are three recruits from Coburg Districts, while Jeremy Mundie has come over from Lockington-Bamawm United.
Shaun Atley, who won last year’s best-and-fairest, is currently living in Sweden but could return during the season.
Great hands: Mitch Cricelli rises high for a mark.
Photo by
BrucePoveyPhotos.com 2022
FINISHING RANGE: 6TH-9TH
Rochester may have made the finals last year, but it will be a tough ask for them to do so again in 2023. The Tigers had a favourable fixture in 2022, but they might not be so lucky this time around. The Tigers will be in the hunt for the top six, but they could find themselves behind some other clubs who have improved this year.
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