Hawthorn legend Michael Tuck, supporters lunch organiser Rob Aitken and GVL legend Anthony “Tank” McPhee.
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The annual Rochester Football Netball Club Melbourne supporters lunch was held on Friday, May 23 at the Royal Melbourne Hotel on Bourke St.
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Past and present players, coaches and supporters of the club, along with friends and family made up the 180 attendees for the eighth annual lunch.
Current Tigers Wil Hamilton and Mitch Cricelli, 1962 premiers Bruce Fry and Trevor Randall and 2025 Tiger Grant Fuller.
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This year included two panels, the first featuring Lorraine Quinlan, one of the club’s original netball coaches from when netball first joined Goulburn Valley League in the 1980s, and recently retired players Nathan Marone and Nic O’Connor, who both played more than 100 games with Rochester.
The second panel featured a trio of players from the 1999 premiership team, Rob Miller, Brad Sparks and Gary Hawker.
1999 premiership panellists Robbie Miller, Gary Hawker and Brad Sparks.
They shared memories of their time at the club and the premiership, while also engaging in some more light-hearted topics.
“(Hawker) was asked how you defend players to make sure you get on top of your opponent,” event organiser Rob Aitken said.
“He said, in the first quarter, I just punched the ball and in the second quarter, if you're on top of your opponent, start to take a mark and run off him.
“I asked Robbie Miller, what he did to get on top of his opponent and he said, ‘I didn't go through all that, I'll just take a speccy on the top of their shoulders in the first two minutes’.”
Jenny Auld, Lorraine Quinlan, Louise Williams, Anita Ward, Sonya Moreland (Clark) Leanne Gledhill and Christine Hooppell.
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Rochester native Brad McEwan again served as compere at the lunch, while comedian Dave Hughes provided entertainment.
With former players from as far back as 1962 mixing with the current crop, there was plenty of knowledge to be imparted and unique meetings to be had.
Helen Moroney, Jenny Major, Lorraine Quinlan, Jeanne Aitken and Karen Taylor
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One of the guests at the event was Hawthorn legend Michael Tuck, who Aitken met at his own time with the Hawks reserves in the ’70s, who had a chance to compare resumes with GVL legend Anthony “Tank” McPhee.
Both players played more than 400 games in their respective leagues, with McPhee claiming three premierships and Tuck seven.
Rochester's 1999 premiership side had a strong turnout at the supporters lunch.
Both are Hall of Famers in their respective leagues and McPhee managed to claim some bragging rights over the Hawks legend, slotting 996 career goals to Tuck's 320.
Since the event began with about 80 attendees it has now grown into a fixture of the club’s social calendar.
Heath Aitken, Michael Tuck, Dean Moon, Gary Hawker, Tim Rasmussen and David Williams
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“It really has become the social function for the footy club,” Aitken said.
“That's what the players talk about, they want to be a part of it and that’s great because originally, it started off as the idea of a few mates that have been involved (with Rochy) going along for lunch.
“Now it's become a proper luncheon where people really want to go.”
Melbourne based attendees are joined by a bus of Rochester locals who make the trip each year.
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