Only twice this season have opposition clubs scored in excess of 100 points against Ash Watson’s determined Tigers outfit, but the team has rarely managed to kick more than a 10-goal total.
Rochester has managed to kick 60-plus points in just four of its 13 games this season.
The Tigers lay, on average, the second most tackles in their defensive 50m zone and are the most effective tackling team in the competition.
They have the third most rebound 50s of any team in the league and, despite being the 10th-ranked team, are also a top five team for overall pressure.
Against its final three opponents of this year (Euroa, Echuca and Shepparton United), the first time round at least, they lost by 50 points, 93 points and 13 points.
They will be hoping to maintain their defensive workload, but add an offensive element significant enough to finish the year on a positive note.
The round three Echuca game was one of the few occasions where the team was unable to match it with its opposition for an extended period.
Echuca was one of the two teams, the other being Mooroopna, who “rag-dolled’’ the Tigers and finished with a triple figure tally.
Even against the Murray Bombers, the Rochester outfit opened the match in competitive fashion before being outscored 21 goals to seven in the final three quarters.
Against the Cats in round six, the Tigers were competitive for a half, trailing by just 10 points at half-time, before being blown away to the tune of 10 goals to two after the long break.
Seven of the Tigers nine goals in that match came from two sources, a similar story in the Echuca game where six of the nine goals came from two key forwards.
Against Shepparton United, in round 10, only poor kicking (17 behind in the opening three quarters from 21 scoring shots) that cost the team.
Here is a little deeper dive into what worked, and didn’t, the first time around against the Tigers final three home and away opponents of the season.
– Euroa star Will Hayes didn’t play against the Tigers the first time round and the Tigers almost matched the high possession count of its opposition.
Euroa had just two more disposals for the match (332-330) as Rochester trailed by just 11 points at three-quarter-time.
The final term domination of the Magpies, seven goals to one, was built on the back of a 17-9 inside 50 count for the quarter (52-31 for the match) and a 17-5 hit out count in Euroa’s favour — leading to six centre clearances to one for the term.
Euroa took 29 marks to Rochester’s 10 inside 50 for the match, with Sean Williams taking three of those and kicking two goals.
– Rochester had more disposals than Echuca in the opening quarter of the round three match, they took more marks inside 50 and laid five more tackles.
Echuca responded by having 18 inside-50 entries to six in the second term and laid five tackles to one inside its forward 50.
The reigning premier finished with 63 inside 50 entries to Rochester’s 29 and, apart from Sean Williams’ four goals and two from Mitch Cricelli, the Tigers had few other scoring options.
Williams took four marks inside 50 as Rochester’s defensive statistical count significantly outweighed its offensive output.
Rochester laid 62 tackles (14 more than Rochester) on the back of the work of Bailey Wileman, Seamus Henderson and Matt Kellett 24 (between them).
– Rochester’s round 10 statistical domination of Shepparton United was not rewarded with four premiership points after the Tigers kicked 20 behinds from 25 scoring shots and finished a 13-point loser.
While five of those behinds were rushed through by the opposition, there was plenty of opportunity to kick a winning score.
Sean Williams did everything well, apart from his kicking for goal.
He took seven marks inside 50 (Rochester won that count 15-9).
He had 16 kicks at full forward and scored from 11 of those — kicking 2.9 for the game.
Rochester had 34 more disposals than United, 25 more marks, 14 more inside 50 entries, won the clearances 43-27 and even had three more free kicks.
It was the performance of ruckman Mitch Cricelli that made headlines, his 238 ranking point game the highest of any GVL player this season.
It included 37 disposals, 44 hit outs, 13 marks, five tackles, nine inside 50s, five rebound 50s and 13 clearances — along with one goal (a statistical sheet worth framing).
