The August 21 under-12 lightning premiership will be contested at Victoria Park in Echuca, along with the Echuca United oval, with scoring, ladders and finals. This will be new for the players, who have contested the home-and-away season without an operational scoreboard.
They will contest two 12-minute halves on a full-size oval, with three qualifying rounds prior to the finals.
An under-10 gala day will allow the club’s Auskick players to be involved in a match play format, at Moama Football Club, where two junior teams will be entered.
While there will be no scores, ladders and finals, teams will play under a new format where players must stay in their zones.
The oval will be split into three areas; forward, back and midfield; which will provide a perfect storm for all players (12 to 15 on the oval) to be involved.
Home-and-away seasons for the under-12 Goulburn Murray team finished at Windridge Oval a fortnight ago, against Tongala, while this season the under-14 team has competed in the Bendigo competition.
Leigh Mundie and Toby Acocks were celebrating a successful development season for their team at the final match of the under-12 season.
Rochester’s Auskick centre has been highly patronised this season, with terrific interest in the 13 round season of the under-12 team, against seven other competitions.
Mundie said there had been 29 players on the under-12 roster, available to play each week.
“We have been rotating them through and all the boys were very understanding. It is a unique situation, as the team involves players from six schools.
“We have kids from Nanneella, Rochester, Colbinabbin, Rushworth, St Joseph’s and OLSH at Elmore,” Acocks said.
Toby Acocks was supported this year by Mundie in the coaching role this year and both coaches admitted their role had been made easier by the backing of a strong parent group.
"We haven’t had to make rosters, parents have supported through umpiring, jumper washing and many other roles,“ he said.
The base provided for the club’s 2023 season will see Rochester in a strong position to be competitive in the Bendigo League, with 13 from the under-12 team due to play at under-14 level next year.
"There is a very good feeling in the club. Even the five kids who missed a game today because of our numbers were out there running water.
“We have a great group of people and numbers look good for next year,” he said.
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