Whipp is co-coach of the team with Linda Rasmussen and the pair will be hoping to continue the momentum that was built in the final four rounds of 2022.
Between rounds 13 and 17 last year, the Tigerettes had three successive wins — albeit against teams below them on the ladder (Mansfield, Benalla and Tatura) — then took third-ranked United to within eight goals, losing 48-56.
They lost by just one to Shepparton Swans (who finished seventh with eight wins) in round 17 and finished the home-and-away season with a 52-all draw with sixth-placed Shepparton.
Rochester does have some significant ground to make up on the top half-dozen teams of the competition if it is to play finals in 2023.
On the ladder at least, there was a significant gulf between the top six and the bottom six teams in the premier division.
Three clubs — Seymour, Mooroopna and Shepparton United — lost just three games each last year and all had comfortable wins against Rochester.
Echuca, Euroa and Shepparton were the only remaining teams to have “winning’’ seasons, with Rochester sitting in eighth spot with six wins, 10 defeats and two draws.
Rochester averaged 45.77 goals a game and, on average, had just 46.11 goals scored against it during season 2022.
It ran Echuca to single-figure results, losing by nine and seven, during 2022 and was involved in a pair of thrillers with Kyabram, which finished 10th.
The opening round match with Kyabram promises a lot considering their two games from last season. The teams played out a draw in round two and the Tigerettes won by one goal later in the year.
In round two, Rochester faces reigning premier Seymour, then has traditional rival and regular league powerhouse Echuca in round three.
Finalists Shepparton and Mooroopna follow in two of the next three weeks and by round 10 the Rochester team will have played every one of last year’s finalists.
The team’s worst two results last year came against second-ranked Mooroopna (a 20-goal loss) and third-ranked United (a 27-goal defeat).
A 32-goal win over Mansfield was its biggest win of 2022.
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