AFL cup brings joy to Rochester

By Campaspe News

Feb 19, 2023

Premiership cup tour: Zoe Mangan and Mackenzie Harvey holding the cup with pride. Photo by Steve Huntley

Rochester residents had the chance to get up close and personal with the 2022 AFL Premiership Cup on Wednesday.

Up in the air: Devlan Murray looking triumphant. Photo by Steve Huntley

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The Geelong Football Club brought Australian Rules Football’s most coveted prize to town as part of a four-day tour of regional Victoria and southern NSW.

Thrilled: Rochester Secondary College students Keira Kirby, Hayley Bouceki, Ziah Haines and Hannah Gibbs with assistant principal Chris Sanders and the AFL Premiership Cup. Photo by Steve Huntley

Due to the Cats’ pre-season training schedule, none of the players who featured in the resounding grand final success against Sydney were able to make the trip with the premiership cup.

True fan: Archie Watson decked out in all his Geelong gear. Photo by Steve Huntley

Not that it deterred the many who converged at Rochester Primary School.

Youngsters, parents and members of the public took the rare opportunity to hoist the trophy aloft.

Broad smiles and thumbs up were evident, with youngster Devlan Murray euphoric as he lifted the premiership cup.

Big smiles: Ellie Riordan, Naomi Riordan, Maya Riordan and Addison Riordan. Photo by Steve Huntley

The trophy was adorned with blue and white streamers, the colours of the Cats.

The premiership cup tour made stops in Shepparton, Moama and Mildura as well as Rochester.

You beauty: Rochester Primary School students with the AFL Premiership Cup. Photo by Steve Huntley

It follows an earlier tour in late 2022, which visited urban areas of Melbourne and Geelong as well as the Surf Coast, Colac, Warrnambool, Bendigo, Ballarat and Traralgon.

The premiership cup has a few more engagements interstate before settling into the trophy cabinet of the Premiership Stand at GMHBA Stadium for a well-earned rest.