Breakaway: Jude Ryan is about to break clear of Kyabram captain Bohden Learmonth as Ray Pearson arrived to provide support to his Tigers’ teammate.
Todd Woodfine understands his role as coach of Rochester’s under-18 football team this season is not all about winning.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
Woodfine and his young charges went into the opening round match with 2022 finalist Kyabram without three of its best players — all on duty with the club’s senior team.
Ruckman Charlie Palmer, along with midfielders Darby Wileman and Nate Rasmussen, were all involved the 2.15pm fixture.
Rasmussen, who played two senior games last season while still eligible for under-16 football, played a handful of games in the Northern Territory League in the off season.
Palmer kicked 10 goals in 15 under-18 games last year, while Wileman featured in four senior games last season and kicked a goal a game from the midfield in under-18 ranks.
Wileman won the Tigers’ under-18 best-and-fairest last season, with Palmer finishing third.
Rasmussen lost the under-16 best-and-fairest by one vote.
“At different stages during the year I expect that five or six of our team will be playing senior football,” Woodfine said.
Despite the loss of important personnel, Woodfine’s team outscored Kyabram in the final three quarters of the match.
At quarter-time Kyabram had peppered the goals to the tune of 12 scoring shots and led by 37 points, with the Tigers yet to score.
The writing was on the wall for the Tigers, who lost to Kyabram by 129 points in round two last year and then by 94 points in round 11.
The final score on Saturday saw Kyabram win 12.14 (86) to Rochester’s 8.4 (52).
Speaking to his team after the game, Woodfine said he was proud of the commitment after the first break.
“Considering the scoreboard at quarter-time it was a credit to you boys to turn things around the way you did. If you take that first quarter out we would probably have won the game,” he said.
In pursuit: Declan Pearse appears to be held without the ball as he attempts to clear the football from defence in the Tigers’ loss to Kyabram.
After quarter-time the Tigers scored eight goals to Kyabram’s seven and outscored its more highly rated opponent by three points.
Kyabram had Nicholas Jephson and Archie Watt in its ranks, two players who are on Coates Talent League squads.
He said if his team could repeat the positive mindset and hunting of the football in the final three quarters it was bound to have a great year.
Reed Hocking played mostly in the ruck, but kicked half of the Tigers’ goals, finishing with four majors for the morning.
He kicked only six goals in 16 under-18 matches last season.
Midfielders Hugh Kerlin and Ray Pearson were among their team’s best players, while Zayne Adams stepped up successfully after playing only one under-18 game last season.
He has plenty to offer, having kicked 19 goals in 12 under-16 appearances last season.
Declan Pearse, who played five senior games last season with the Tigers, was a stumbling block in defence for Kyabram.
Harrison Keating was the best of the bottom age players, with the coach explaining there were currently 21 on the under-18 team list.
With the under-16 competition no longer running in the Goulburn Valley league, the availability of players is a little more restricted than recent seasons.
Rochester’s under-16 and under-14 teams are both playing in the Bendigo league this season.
The reserve grade team, which regularly called on under-18 players last season, had 22 on its list for round one.
Fender bender: Harrison Foster extends his arm to break this tackle against Kyabram at Moon Oval on Saturday.
GOALS, Rochester: L. Sketcher 2, S. Frawley 2, B. Evans 1, Kyabram: B. Nolan 3, C. Fawcett 2, N. Denahy 2, J. Gascoyne 1, J. Fitzgerald 1, W. Burnett 1.
BEST, Rochester: H. McPhee, R. Eeles, K. Moroney, X. Hooppell, B. Evans. Kyabram: N. Denahy, L. Dillon, K. Williams, J. Fitzgerald, A. Pulsoni.
GOALS, Rochester: Reed Hocking 4, Jordy Bruton 1, Jude Ryan 1, Ray Pearson 1, Tobie Woodfine 1. Kyabram: B. Pyke 4, M. Griffiths 3, B. White 2, B. Learmonth 2, A. Watt 1.
BEST, Rochester: Hugh Kerlin, Reed Hocking, Zayne Adams, Ray Pearson, Declan Pearse. Kyabram: N. Jephson, B. Learmonth, D. Miller, B. Pyke, O. Shortis.
13°C