Ava Rasmussen fights for the ball in the Rochester under-12 girls’ semi-final win over St Francis Green.
Energy crackled through White Hills Recreation Reserve as the Rochester under-12 Tigers arrived ready for battle.
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The VIP tent shimmered with black and yellow pride, set up especially for the young Tigers who missed the semi‑finals game, and complete with caps, gift bags, and pom-poms that set the scene for a night of fierce determination and pure community spirit.
Coach Trent Riordan gathered his squad with calm confidence, reminding them, “It’s going to be a tough game, but we can win this. Keep the ball moving fast and low. You girls have gotten better every single week, tackle hard and have fun.”
And from the very first bounce, the Tigers did exactly that.
Rochester burst out of the blocks, surging the ball into its forward line and locking it in with fierce pressure.
Both teams fought tooth and nail for every crumb, every loose ball, every inch of ground. It was an arm wrestle, but the Tigers held firm.
Cool, calm, and collected Mackenzie Harvey broke the deadlock with a brilliant, composed kick straight through the middle, sending the crowd into a frenzy.
Moments later, St Francis tried to clamp down on Frankie Hay, but she was far too slick, dancing around defenders and slotting the Tigers’ second major.
Rochester roared to a 14-point lead and the girls were pumped, loud and proud.
Ava Rasmussen was ferocious with her tackling, warming up like a storm ready to break.
And then there was Ella Forde, who was absolutely everywhere.
She played her best game of the season, popping up in every contest, linking up play, reading the ball beautifully, and shutting down any St Francis player brave enough to approach it.
Her presence was constant, her impact undeniable.
Ella Forde watches the ball onto her boot.
But St Francis weren’t done. They dug deep, steadied, and kicked two quick goals to close the gap.
Just when momentum threatened to swing, Sophie Godden stood tall, shutting down goals with sheer determination and grit.
At half-time, with only a single point separating the sides, the Tigers knew they needed to lift.
Ava Rasmussen strode off with fire in her eyes; she could smell the win.
Coach Riordan rallied his troops: “We’ve got this, I know we do. Lots of voice out there. Let's play our game, hard and fast. Sophie — brilliant work. Yes, a couple slipped through but you’ve stopped so many. Be proud. Go get them, Tigers.”
And get them they did.
Frankie and Ella continued to shine with smart, classy play.
Alva Acocks grew in confidence, throwing herself into contests.
Zoe Mangan showed off her speed and agility.
Annemarie Smith ran hard, protected the ball, and set up another Frankie goal.
Annemarie Smith prepares herself for a kick.
St Francis became rattled, unbalanced, and unsure of how to handle the relentless Tigers.
Mackenzie Harvey continued to find space, take strong marks, and Rochester’s teamwork became nothing short of phenomenal.
They dug deep. They never gave up. And they were rewarded.
The Tigers stormed home with a cracking last quarter, running away with a magnificent 31-point victory.
The crowd was on its feet, siblings sprinted onto the oval, and the celebration was pure joy. A sea of yellow and black, smiles, and pride.
Post-game, coach Riordan summed it up perfectly: “Every single one of you got in and got your hands dirty. That’s the best game I’ve seen you play. Well done everyone, and a huge thank you to our VIPs, you guys are amazing. Grand final, here we come.”
Rochester 7.2 (44) defeated St Francis Green 2.1 (13).
Goal-kickers: Frankie Hay (5) and Mackenzie Harvey (2).
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