Under 12 Girls

Rochester’s Under 12 girls travelled to White Hills to play against third place Eaglehawk Hawks for their final game of the season, and from the moment the team arrived there was a buzz in the air.

Coach Trent Riordan gathered the Tigers and reminded them of everything they had worked for.

“Tackle hard, play hard, but have fun,” he said.

“You girls have worked hard all season and taken everything in.

“We’ve fine-tuned our drills over the last six weeks, now show the Hawks what we’re made of.”

The message landed, and from the first bounce Rochester came out firing but Eaglehawk wasn’t there to roll over.

They shut down forward entries, applied pressure, and turned the opening quarter into a fierce arm wrestle. The ball was kicked back and forth like a Toyota bouncing between two paddocks, with both teams tackling hard and refusing to give an inch.

By quarter time, scores were locked, and the crowd was already on edge.

Everything changed in the second quarter. Rochester lifted their intensity and teamwork to a new level, swarming the Hawks with pressure that left them scrambling.

Alva Acocks had a breakout night, pulling down strong marks, playing confidently in front, and thrilling the crowd with the mark of the night.

Her improvement and belief were on full display.

Ella Mundie kicked her second goal, setting the tone and sparking the Tigers’ momentum.

Quiet achiever Zoe Mangan was superb, taking strong marks, staying composed, and delivering clean kicks to her targets.

She positioned herself perfectly all night, always in front, always ready, and never afraid to drag an opponent to the ground with a strong tackle.

Abbie Griffiths played her best game of the season, getting her hands dirty, winning the ball at ground level, and cleaning up every crumb.

In the forward line, Sophie Godden worked beautifully with superstars Ella Forde and Frankie Hay, forming a dangerous trio that kept Eaglehawk scoreless for the entire quarter.

The Tigers’ pressure was electric, their teamwork outstanding, and their confidence unmistakable.

By the third quarter, Eaglehawk stepped up and the tension rose.

The crowd could feel the shift as Ella Forde was tagged heavily, forcing Rochester to adjust.

That’s when Scarlett Macfarlane dug deep, throwing herself into packs, applying tackles, getting knocked around, and bouncing back every single time, her resilience, grit, and determination were a highlight of the night.

Meanwhile, Alva Acocks continued her brilliant form, finding speed, taking strong marks, and playing with a smile that said she was loving every moment.

At the final break, Coach Riordan urged the girls to dig deeper.

“You’ve only got 12 minutes left,” he said.

“Run it out. Tackle hard. Work hard. Show them what Tigers are made of.”

And that’s exactly what they did.

The final quarter was pure Rochester spirit.

Every Tiger lifted; tackling, running, kicking, and refusing to let Eaglehawk back into the game.

Their teamwork shone, their determination never wavered, and their hunger for the win carried them all the way to the siren.

When the game ended, Rochester had claimed a well-deserved 20 point victory.

Post‑ game, Coach Riordan told the girls how amazed he was by every single Tiger out there.

“I think there were four or five players who played their best game ever,” he said.

“It was brilliant to see your growth, determination and teamwork tonight. I wish I had sixteen awards to hand out because you all deserve it.

“All the hard work at training is paying off. Well done girls, that was a tough game, and you came away with the win.”

It was a brilliant finish to the season, showcasing growth, confidence, and the true heart of Tigerland.

Rochester 5.3 (33) defeated Eaglehawk Hawks 2.2 (13)

Mundie Constructions Award: Abbie Griffiths.

Rochester Sports Museum Award: Ella Mundie.

The Café Rochester Award: Alva Acocks.

Healthy Sports Loddon Campaspe Award: Zoe Mangan.

Under 14 Mixed

The Rochester Under 14s finished their season with an outstanding display of football against Golden Square, going down by 44 points in a game that showcased the determination, skill and team spirit of the young Tigers.

Despite the final result, Rochester played some sensational football throughout the match, with clearances a real highlight.

The Tigers worked hard at stoppages and repeatedly found ways to win possession and drive the ball forward, giving their forwards plenty of opportunities.

Down back, the Rochester defenders worked tirelessly to halt Golden Square’s attacking plays and keep the opposition guessing.

Their pressure and determination made life difficult for Golden Square and ensured the Tigers continued to compete strongly throughout the game.

Patrick O’Sullivan was instrumental in creating scoring chances, producing two brilliant assists that resulted in goals to George McFadzean and Harrison Wilkins.

His vision and willingness to put his teammates into scoring positions perfectly summed up the team-first approach Rochester displayed.

The scoreboard was kept ticking over by a strong spread of goal kickers, with George McFadzean leading the way with three goals, while Harrison Wilkins added two.

Henry Williams, Nash Riordan and Cooper Rasmussen each contributed a goal.

As the final siren sounded, the young Tigers could hold their heads high.

While Golden Square took the win, Rochester's effort, sensational clearances and commitment to one another made it a fitting way to finish the season.

A loss on the scoreboard, but certainly no shortage of pride for the boys.

Rochester 8.3 (51) lost to Golden Square 14.11 (95)

Best players: Harrison Wilkins, Trey Hayes, Walt James, Cooper Rasmussen, Harrison Pangrazio, George McFadzean.

Goal kickers: G. McFadzean (3), H. Wilkins (2), H. Williams, N. Riordan, C. Rasmussen.

Mayreef Pty Ltd Award: Harrison Pangrazio.

Glenavon Farms Award: Maddox Parker.

Canteen Awards: Henry Williams and River Powles.

Healthy Sports Loddon Campaspe Award: Luke Drust.

Under 15 Girls

The final game of the season saw the Rochester Under 15 Girls hit the road early, heading to Mercy Junortoun with frost still clinging to the lush green grass.

As the sun broke through, the Tigers arrived buzzing, knowing they wanted to finish their year with a bang against South Bendigo.

With Rochester sitting sixth and the Bloods seventh, everyone expected a tight contest, and that’s exactly what they got.

Coach Duckworth set the tone with a fiery pre‑ game message.

“It’ s our last game for the season, so let’ s run out there and show South what Rochester stands for,” she said.

“Enjoy the game but play hard, run fast and move the ball quickly.”

South Bendigo clearly had the same idea.

The first quarter was a genuine arm wrestle, with both sides struggling to settle in.

The damp dew made the ball slippery and hard to control, and clean possessions were rare, but Rochester found their spark through Kaylee Saunders, who showed she had the need for speed, breaking away from packs, finding space, and forcing the Bloods to work overtime to win the ball back.

With both teams still battling the conditions, Rochester knew they needed to switch on.

Alida Beer stepped up with brilliant leads, loud talk, and steady guidance. Her voice lifted the group, and the Tigers finished the quarter locked at one goal apiece.

Duckworth’s message at the break was simple, "I need to hear voices out there girls,” she said.

“Midfield, build a wall and stop the ball coming back. Well done backline, you’re working super hard but let’s switch on, work hard and use our voices.”

And that’s exactly what the young Tigers did. The midfield exploded into action.

Isabella Russell was dominant, laying powerful tackles, finding space, and making smart decisions.

Paired with Alida, Gracie Cox, and Sienna Weeks, Rochester suddenly had South Bendigo on the back foot.

Sienna set the tone for the rest of the day, kicking the Tigers’ first goal and lifting the whole team.

Isabella continued to take strong marks, keeping the ball locked in Rochester’s forward half.

Macey Macfarlane was ferocious with her tackling, hunting the ball wherever she went, while Zahli Young once again proved her reliability down back, standing strong, reading the play beautifully, and clearing the ball with speed and confidence.

As the game went on, the Tigers only got better.

Their teamwork clicked, their voices grew louder, and you could see the girls relax and genuinely enjoy their footy.

It was a brilliant all round effort, and Rochester finished their season with a well‑ deserved win, defeating South Bendigo by 22 points.

Post‑ game, Duckworth praised her girls for a gutsy, resilient season.

“It was a tough start as we were short of players for the first half, but as our skills improved and when we finally had everyone back in, our confidence grew,” she said.

“You’ve all been awesome, I couldn’t ask for a better bunch of girls and to all the parents, thank you for your incredible support.”

She also acknowledged the off‑ field heroes who kept the season running smoothly:

James the runner, “I couldn’t have done it without you.”

Alana and Shelley, the team managers "You’ve been brilliant, organising everything and keeping us on track.”

A strong finish, a united group, and a season full of growth, the Tigers walked off Mercy Oval with smiles, pride, and momentum for the future.

Rochester 3.7 (25) defeated South Bendigo 0.3 (3)

Best players: Isabella Russell, Gracie Cox, Chelsea Braithwaite, Alida Beer, Macey Macfarlane, Kaylee Saunders.

Goal kickers: C. Braithwaite, A. Beer, S. Weeks.

Mawsons Concrete and Quarries Award: Kaylee Saunders.

Darling Irrigation Award: Macey Macfarlane.

Iddles Lane Emporium Award: Zahli Young.

Under 16 Boys

The final game of the season saw Rochester welcome Kangaroo Flat in pristine football conditions, with the boys keen to finish the year on a high after suffering a narrow loss to the same opposition earlier in the season.

From the opening bounce, Rochester came out firing, producing some of their best clean and unselfish football of the year.

The boys moved the ball with purpose, backed themselves to take the right options and, most importantly, played for each other.

Their pressure and team-first approach were rewarded with a substantial lead at the main break.

The second half became a much more even contest on the scoreboard, with Kangaroo Flat mounting a determined challenge and finding more opportunities going forward.

Rochester were forced to defend strongly and remain composed as the opposition continued to attack, but the boys refused to let the momentum slip completely.

Their willingness to compete for every ball and support their teammates under pressure was a feature of the afternoon, with everyone contributing to keep Rochester in control when it mattered most.

Despite the opposition’s spirited second-half attack, Rochester held their nerve to create a stirring victory and finish the season in style.

It was a performance that showed just how much the group had developed throughout the year, combining skill, resilience and a genuine team-first mentality.

To turn around the narrow result from earlier in the season and finish with such a convincing and hard-earned win, was a fantastic reward for the boys’ efforts.

A great way to finish the season and a performance the entire group can be proud of.

Rochester 13.7 (85) defeated Kangaroo Flat 6.7 (43)

Best Players: Asher Rasmussen, Hugh Acocks, Harry Rasmussen, Mason Mundie, Mac Dickinson, Jag Tarrant.

Goal kickers: A. Rasmussen (4), H. Wilkins (3), H. Acocks, M. Mundie (2), C. Holmberg, O. Seamer.

Rochester Football Netball Club Awards: Jordan Peters, Harry Rasmussen, Mac Dickinson, Aaron Harbour.

Glenavon Farms Award: Charlie Holmberg.

Canteen Award: Hugh Acocks.

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Wednesday, 8th March 2034

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