GVL ǀ Gallery ǀ Eagles assert dominance with imposing win at Rochester

By James Kleeman

Jul 17, 2022

Under pressure: Rochester’s Mitch Cricelli attempts a tackle on Mansfield’s Dirk Koenen. Photos: Bruce Povey Photo by BrucePoveyPhotos.com 2022

Rochester’s Moon Oval fortress was breached on Saturday, with Mansfield securing an important 17.10 (112) to 8.12 (60) round 13 win to reaffirm the Eagles’ Goulburn Valley League top-four ambitions.

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A hot start from the Eagles on Saturday afternoon had the visitors in the driver’s seat early, but a resurgent Tigers outfit clawed back momentum after the first change.

Mansfield’s usual goal-scoring suspects in Will Foster and Cameron Arnold got themselves in on the action early to help produce a six-goal-to-three first term.

Charging through: Rochester’s Hugh Hamilton and Charlie Ward tackle Jayden Howes. Photo by BrucePoveyPhotos.com 2022

“We got off to a flyer but lost our way for a little bit,” Mansfield coach Chad Owens said.

“We lost a bit of momentum in the second, they hit the front and played out a really strong second quarter.”

Steven Stroobants’ men put on three goals in the second term to find themselves in front, but two Mansfield goals in the shadows of the first half ensured the Eagles held a slim lead going into the break.

Off he goes: Shaun Atley gets a move on. Photo by BrucePoveyPhotos.com 2022

Owens said his side was dealt a difficult hand heading into the second half, with both Lachie Christopher and big man Tom McDonagh nursing knocks that ended their day.

“We were down two at half-time with a couple of injuries. Credit to the boys, they’ve come out really sharp after half-time,” Owens said.

“Just to get our way back into the game when it was really in the balance, the boys did really well to sustain the effort.”

Safe hands: Rochester’s Steven Stroobants marks on a lead. Photo by BrucePoveyPhotos.com 2022

Mansfield took control of proceedings after the main change with a four-goal-to-one third quarter, before the goal-happy visitors iced the game with a five-goal-to-one final term.

“We were really happy with what our boys did,” Owens said of the win.

“They’re a hard team to beat, Rochester, at Rochester too. I think some of the boys were saying in the week it’s been at least six or seven years since they’d won over there.”

Dishing it off: Rochester’s Nathan McCarty handballs under pressure from Mansfield’s Ben Christopher. Photo by BrucePoveyPhotos.com 2022

VFL talents Corey Rich and Dirk Koenen were among the standouts for Mansfield, while the Eagles’ forward unit fired again with Arnold and Foster booting five apiece.

Lachie Christopher finished with three goals to his name.

Rochester playing coach Stroobants led from the front on Saturday with a four-goal haul, but his efforts, along with Shaun Atley’s return to the Rochester midfield, were not enough to see the Tigers over the line.

The Tigers’ second successive defeat leaves them adrift of the top six but tied with Seymour on 28 points, while the Eagles sit comfortably in third.