Rochester's Kyle Waters kicks a goal and celebrates with his teammates.
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BrucePoveyPhotos.com 2022
Rochester laid down another marker in its pursuit of a top-two finish, holding off a late Shepparton charge to secure a 20-point win in round nine of Goulburn Valley League.
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The Tigers got the jump early, kicking four first-quarter goals to zero and never relinquished control in the 10.6 (66) to 6.10 (46) result at Moon Oval.
The win pushes Rochester to 8-1 on the season and keeps the pressure on unbeaten Kyabram at the top of the ladder.
Coach Ash Watson was full of praise for his side’s blistering start, particularly given the Bears had claimed both meetings between the teams in 2024.
“There was a bit of rain later in the game, so obviously the head start we had was awesome for us,” Watson said.
“We came into the game knowing it was a massive one for us. The Bears beat us quite convincingly both times last year and we know they’re a high-quality side with lots of top-end talent.
“We’ve got a solid block of games in this period now, so we knew we had to come to play, focus on a few key things – and I couldn’t fault the boys.”
Rochester’s midfield set the tone in the early going, stifling Shepparton’s run and carry with a high-pressure brand of footy.
“They’re a really quick team with uncontested footy and uncontested marks, so we knew we had to nullify that,” Watson said.
“Their midfield is their key, so pressure and physicality had to be right up there. We weren’t going to beat them by playing safe footy – we had to take the game on and we did that in the dry early.”
The Tigers were also efficient going forward, with Kyle Waters booting three goals in another strong outing. It wasn’t just his scoreboard impact that earned Watson’s praise.
“He’s had a great season for us,” he said.
“He kicked six a few weeks ago, but it’s more about the pressure he brings. He got on the end of a few yesterday, but we love the ground-level support and pressure he’s been putting on. He’s been fantastic.”
Shot selection and improved entries also helped Rochester convert when it mattered.
“We had some better entries to good spots and not so wide. The boys finished their work really well.”
But it was ruckman Hamish Hooppell who drew the loudest plaudits from Watson, producing a standout performance against one of the league’s most respected big men.
“He played on a league medallist and was clearly our best player yesterday,” Watson said.
“He’s putting together a really fine season.”
The Tigers now turn their attention to a tricky road trip to Seymour in round 10.
“We played them earlier in the year and it was one of our better games,” Watson said.
“They’ve been a quality side for a long time and they’re always better down there.
“We’ve had some tough games over the journey at Seymour, so we know they’ll be strong again next week.”
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