Making the 150 kilometre round trip to Rochester looking to secure all four points on the road, the visitors came into the round seven clash in buoyant mood following a string of emphatic results against Benalla and Seymour in recent weeks.
In a contest that could have went either way, the Swans ultimately produced the stronger finish to pull away late and secure an important away 10.9 (69) to 8.6 (54) win against a resilient Tigers side that refused to roll over at Moon Oval.
James Auld starred up with a magnificent attacking display for the in-form Swans, booting five goals in a dominant performance that proved the difference between the two sides.
The Swans made a resolute start on their travels, with Auld kicking two first-quarter goals as the visitors established an early seven-point advantage.
Rochester responded through Nate Rasmussen, but Shepparton’s defensive pressure and cleaner ball movement allowed it to edge ahead 2.1 (13) to 1.0 (6) at the first break.
The second term became a scrap, with Rochester beginning to generate more opportunities inside forward 50.
Hugh Hamilton lifted for the Tigers with two second-quarter goals, while Adam McPhee also hit the scoreboard as the home side threatened to seize momentum.
However, each Rochester surge was answered by the unwavering Auld, who added another two majors for the quarter to help preserve Shepparton’s narrow halftime lead.
The contest tightened even further after the main break as Hamilton completed his three-goal haul early in the third term before Felix Fogaty added another major for Rochester as the Tigers briefly threatened a comeback.
But again, the Swans found timely responses as Sam Bicknell kicked an important goal moments into the quarter before captain Nathan Rachele hit the scoreboard to give his side a 12-point buffer into the final break.
With the game still in the balance entering the last quarter, the Swans then shifted into another gear.
Joeve Cooper proved instrumental in securing the spoils, kicking two crucial final-quarter goals to halt Rochester’s momentum after early majors from Ryley Ferguson and Bailey Wileman had reduced the margin.
Kade Anderson and Christian Georgiou also added late goals as the Swans finished strongly to seal the 15-point triumph.
Alongside Auld’s five-goal masterclass, Cooper was influential with two majors, while Bicknell, Georgiou and Rachele all contributed important strikes to keep their side in the premiership picture.
Reflecting on the performance, Swans captain Nathan Rachele provided insight into the thoughts of those within the dressing room following the win.
“It was a good win, we played pretty average in the first half but we had a good chat at half-time,” the skipper said as he discussed a change in approach in the second half.
“It was probably just our skills let us down (first half) and they were scoring a lot of goals from our turnovers - we cleared that up and came out almost like a new side.
“We played a pretty good brand in the third quarter but just couldn’t capitalise - we had a lot of the play - and we gave them a bit of a chance coming into the last quarter but we’ll keep working on it.”
Earmarking teammate Auld for praise after his five-goal display, his captain waxed lyrical about his clinical performance up against Rochy defensive colossus Ryan O’Keefe.
“He kicked goals when we needed them and when the game was in the balance.
“He was was playing on a really decent player in Ryan O’Keefe, one of the better defenders in the league, so to stand up and be counted by kicking five - it was unreal.”
Sitting eight points adrift of neighbours Shepparton at the league ladder summit, the Swans will be hoping to chip away at that advantage in the coming weeks starting with a round eight clash against Mansfield on May 30.
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