Nothing came easily Saturday, but Rochester could celebrate a hard-fought triumph.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
In conditions which exceeded 30°C on the turf of Mooroopna Recreation Reserve, you would never predict a contest this intense.
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Indeed, Rochester would make its first road trip of the 2025 Goulburn Valley League campaign as comfortable favourite against a Mooroopna side licking its wounds from a tough first-up defeat at Mansfield.
It was a day of sentiment on both sides, with the Cats celebrating long-standing water carrier Graham Ferguson’s 500th outing at the club while, on the other end of the scale, former GWS Giant Cooper Hamilton was suiting up alongside brothers Wil and Hugh in Tigers colours for the first time.
Graham Ferguson was the man of the hour for Mooroopna in notching game 500 with the drinks.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
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Mooroopna's Coby James was in the thick of virtually everything.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
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Two ex-AFL talents collide in the form of Mooroopna's Nathan Drummond and Rochester's Cooper Hamilton.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
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Rochester's Mitch Cricelli and Mooroopna's Jack Johnston locked horns all day in a fascinating duel.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
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Mooroopna's Jack Johnston was a persistent threat in the air.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
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Mooroopna's Mackenzie Calleja and Jack Johnston contest the mark opposite Rochester's Wil Hamilton.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
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Mooroopna's Ethan Hunt dishes one off under pressure from Rochester's Mitch Cricelli.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
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Mooroopna's Ethan Hunt takes a second to compose with ball in hand.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
This clash quickly morphed into a spectacle where it was clear you wouldn’t be seeing some of the free-flowing high scores we’ve been repeatedly treated to across the South Australian border in the big leagues.
By no means is that an insult.
The unusual climate for a home and away fixture meant nothing in the eyes of either side, who brought relentless contested styles all four quarters under the sweltering heat.
The only goals of the game’s first 10 minutes belonged to ever-reliable Tigers Wil Hamilton and Mitch Cricelli, seemingly all but setting the stage for the expected comfortable triumph.
Four early wasted chances threatened to bite the Cats later on, but a pair of quick-fire majors saw John Lamont’s side snatch a brief surprise lead before falling behind at the first change.
It felt a different environment for large parts of the second as the Tigers’ plan to isolate the tall defenders inside the back 50 was thwarted by Mooroopna’s contested prowess, bogging the ball in midfield for chunks of time.
Logan Campbell would fire the first half’s final salvo to keep the margin under a kick, but alarm bells sounded once more when Cricelli popped up for his second barely any time into the third.
Jack Johnston was imposing himself in the air all day for the home side, though, and that shone through spending more time inside 50 where he would nab grab after grab, putting through two majors in the term.
Again, the Cats simply refused to lie down despite the Tigers’ emerging prowess around the ball, and Lamont was on hand at the final change with one of his signature rev-ups in seeking to arrest a 14-point deficit.
That final stanza was the subject of some controversy at both ends of the ground, though, as an infrequently enforced rule cost both teams set shots on goal.
Right at the start of the term, Cricelli had a behind chalked off after the kick, apparently for having sworn following his missed set shot.
As the pendulum continued to swing, the Cats heeded Lamont’s words and lifted with three consecutive goals to get within a point before a kick which would have tied the game was also annulled — for the same reason.
With that lifeline, Rochester got up the other end and Cricelli was able to dribble home the sealer to move the yellow and black to 2-0 with a gritty 11.7 (73) to 9.12 (66) win.
Winning coach Ash Watson was simply relieved to head back to the north-west with another one in the win column.
“(Mooroopna) ran and spread well. We weren’t able to pressure that sometimes, but we came out with a hard-fought win,” Watson said.
“It’s great to get away with the four points. We’ve had a big pre-season and I think it showed in that last quarter.
“The key for us going forward is having majority locals; Cooper (Hamilton) is obviously an elite player and it’s awesome to see the brothers play together.
“We’re a mature side now with a good mix and some kids coming through from the thirds.
“To be 2-0, you take that every day of the week.”
Watson’s unbeaten side will deal with a slightly shorter turnaround next up as it prepares to take on Euroa at home under lights on Good Friday.
Meanwhile, the winless Cats will seek a maiden breakthrough across the causeway at Princess Park against Shepparton Swans.
