Recruits rolled out for Tigers trial match

By Josh Huntly

Mar 21, 2022

Welcome sight: Having midfielder Doug Wren back in the yellow and black was a welcome sight for supporters of Rochester who were at Saturday’s practice match against St Kevin’s at Moon Oval. Wren had plenty of the ball and regularly drove the ball into the Tigers’ attacking zone.

High hopes: Elmore recruit Mitch Cricelli took up the key forward post in the weekend’s practice match and has high hopes attached to his Goulburn Valley season. He had previously played in the Tigers’ Under-18 team.

Early touches: Recruit Isaac Johnson was one of the new faces at Tigerland on Saturday. The club will have its second practice match, against Sandhurst, this weekend.

A glimpse of the 2022 Rochester squad was on offer when the Tigers tackled Victoria Amateur Football Association powerhouse St Kevin’s on Saturday at Moon Oval.

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With 10 senior players missing and high-profile recruit Shaun Atley unavailable for Rochester, the Tigers found themselves understaffed against the VAFA powerhouse.

Rochester was also without re-committed Port Melbourne star Chris Jansen, who managed two games for the Tigers last season when not on VFL duties.

But several new and returning faces were on hand to show the Rochy faithful what to expect in the upcoming season, including Mitch Cricelli in his first appearance for Rochester since his nine-goal haul for the club in July 2020.

Cricelli returned to the Tigers’ forward half for the clash against St Kevin’s, alongside livewire forward Isaac Johnson and senior coach Steve Stroobants in what is set to be a dangerous GVL forward 50 combination.

Midfielder Doug Wren also donned the yellow and black for the first time since 2018, the year he won the club best-and-fairest.

Saturday’s hit-out was organised through connections between St Kevin’s legend and coach Anthony Lynch and Tigers club champion Heath Aitken, with former St Kilda and Essendon player Brendan Goddard in attendance as assistant coach of St Kevin’s.

With the Goulburn Valley League season due to start on April 9, Stroobants had an opportunity to see only half his squad in the team’s initial practice match.

But this weekend the team will front up against Bendigo league club Sandhurst, with a more complete list set to be available.

At Lockington, Rochester’s round one Goulburn Valley League opponent Echuca was also out for a tune-up.

The Murray Bombers faced Ovens and Murray club Wangaratta in a tight hit-out, also clashing with a Bendigo league side this weekend in Eaglehawk.

The two arch rivals will face off in a mouth-watering first-up clash in round one of the Goulburn Valley League on Saturday, April 9, at Moon Oval.

By Josh Huntly