While Rochester’s home ground is leagues away from United States' infamous gunslinging sites, a shootout of sorts did take place there during the third quarter of the Tigers’ 20.21 (141) to 11.4 (70) win over Shepparton United.
After all, it’s not often a side kicks 6.1 and still loses the term.
However, on Saturday that’s precisely what happened to the Demons.
Rochester had just unloaded on United with a seven-goal fanning in the previous quarter, and, in an inspired retort, the Demons were ready to return fire.
Ryan Calogero’s close-range effort pushed the first domino over in a quarter that yielded 12 goals, with United’s early hold unwound by Rochester later on.
You don’t have to be dead to be stiff, and that’s exactly how Duane Hueston’s men would’ve felt after booting four of the opening five majors in the third exchange only just to keep pace as the Tigers kicked 6.4 to United’s 6.1.
Rochester v Shepparton United - the third quarter
Disposals
Rochester: 97
Shepparton United: 69
Contested possessions
Rochester: 31
Shepparton United: 37
Intercept marks
Rochester: 8
Shepparton United: 0
Goals
Rochester: 6
Shepparton United: 6
You might ask, where was the game broken open in this half-hour of mayhem?
Let’s throw on our coats and examine it in the lab under our GVL Data microscopes.
As expected, both teams boasted healthy inside 50 percentages with the hosts leading the measure 75-64 as well as leading marks inside the arc 4-2.
The Tigers had more of the footy, ahead +28 in the disposal count with a cleaner efficiency percentage (78-70).
Rochester also had more clear air in the marking department with 29 uncontested grabs to United’s nine, though the latter had more success from the stoppage area.
United’s six-foot-eight ruckman Samuel Jackson contested 13 hit-outs in the third term, one less than the entire Tigers contingent, as two of the Demons’ goals stemmed from the source.
However, two men come to mind when talking about Rochester’s difference-makers.
Matt Kellett ticked up 11 disposals in the third quarter, 10 of which came off the boot, on the way to his two goals.
Andy Henderson was less involved, but more ruthless than his teammate, splitting the sticks twice from five disposals in a show of craftsmanship from a goalsneak’s perspective.
The 30 minutes of mayhem didn’t entirely transfer to the last, though 12 combined scoring shots in the final term indicated neither side was quite done shooting by then.
It resulted in an absurd 31 majors for the match, making Saturday’s shootout at Moon Oval the second most goal-happy game behind the two 34-goal encounters in round five.
Now, that’s what you call bang for your buck.