Hell, it would’ve felt like torture for Shepparton Swans at least.
The Swans had matched the Tigers for the first half and, despite trailing by eight points at the main break, Jedd Wright’s side must’ve felt bullish about upsetting the applecart.
Instead, something rotten was in store at Moon Oval.
Rochester turned the style dial up to 11 as Ash Watson’s boys in black and yellow composed a bullseye 6.1 third term to eventually surge to a 16.10 (106) to 7.14 (56) result.
So how did this mercurial term play out and who did the damage?
Remarkably, Shepparton Swans led the inside 50 count 13-12 despite kicking five less goals than the host in the third quarter.
That’s mainly due to Rochester holding nine marks inside the arc to the Swans’ zip.
Yes, the Tigers had a lot more of the football, owning the third quarter disposal tally 103-69.
Rochester v Shepp Swans - third quarter
Disposals
Rochester: 103
Swans: 69
Inside 50s
Rochester: 12
Swans: 13
Clearances
Rochester: 9
Swans: 11
Goals
Rochester: 6
Swans: 1
But it all boils down to Rochester’s superior kicking accuracy, with a total efficiency of 72 per cent to the Swans’ 59 with a goal accuracy split of 85-20 per cent the home side’s way.
To answer the secondary part of the earlier question, one man in the sash stood head and shoulders above the rest: Sean Williams.
The Tigers’ left-footed magician cast hex upon hex on the Swans, often left one-on-one at the tip of the goalsquare and, using his footy nous to snatch and grab, kicked four goals from seven third-quarter touches.
Unsurprisingly, six out of his seven disposals were inside 50 marks, resulting in a salivating total of 66 ranking points for the third term alone.
His clinical prowess, paired with Dillon Williams’ service (three inside 50s), helped Rochester bust out and avoid letting the Swans get within striking distance.
After all, Wright’s side is the master of staying in games until the death.
Knowing this, Watson was chuffed with how Rochester turned Saturday’s game on its head with one quarter of slice-and-dice footy.
“(The Swans) brought some awesome pressure and it was a real arm-wrestle before half-time,” Watson said after the match.
“It was really pleasing to get stronger after that and run it out the way we did.”