Sport

Rochester and Kyabram go head-to-head twice as Ash critical in breaking Fremantle streak

By Callum Farquhar

Jul 7, 2026

Anthony DePasquale played his first VFL game since June last year. Photo: Werribee Football Club

Rochester and Kyabram went head-to-head at Moon Oval on Saturday, but a smaller clash between the teams also went ahead in Melbourne’s west.

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In Werribee’s Victorian Football League clash with Southport on Saturday, Kyabram’s Anthony Depasquale lined up at the half forward flank for the Tigers as Rochester’s Cooper Hamilton sat squarely behind him in the Sharks’ back pocket.

While it was Rochester that got the four premiership points against Kyabram on Saturday, it was the Bombers product that held bragging rights over Hamilton, as Werribee recorded a 20-point victory.

Depasquale finished with 2.1, kicking his goals on the cusp of half-time and three-quarter-time, the latter a snap in congestion as three Sharks - including Hamilton - breathed down the forward’s neck in the pocket.

However, Hamilton found the middle of the posts too at quarter-time, doing his best World Cup tribute with a soccer off the deck, the ball trickling over the goal line as the Melbourne Avalon Airport Oval siren blared to end the first term.

Hamilton finished with 17 disposals and three clearances, while Depasquale had nine touches and two marks to boot with his scoring figures.

In the AFL, Katandra’s Lachie Ash was one of GWS’ best in a Giant boilover against ladder leaders Fremantle.

Although Jake Stringer stole the show with seven goals, Ash’s 28 disposals, 629 metres gained and four inside 50s assisted the Giants in snapping a 14-game winning streak for the Dockers.

Shepparton’s Jack Whitlock donned the Bears guernsey at Port Adelaide’s captain’s run on Saturday as the Power acknowledged their junior roots, while Ollie Wines had a kick around in the iconic Murray Bombers green.

Both channelled the Bears and Murray Bombers’ winning spirit from the Goulburn Valley League season, Whitlock’s equal-game-high three goals and Wines’ 22 disposals spurring the Power on to a 21-point victory over North Melbourne.