The Rochester Football Netball Club footballers are this year flexing their muscle and making a promising climb up the ladder.
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With things going well out on the ground, this week’s attention will look beyond the final scoreline as the club looks to honour all those who have played significant roles to ensure the club has been successful and is still able to provide a haven for sport lovers alike.
The highlight for the weekend will see all footballers wear a specifically designed playing jumper, which adorns the history created over its 150-year existence.
Sticking with the Tiger theme, the jumper shows a blend of a red and yellow sash, highlighting a successful era in the Bendigo league, before a return to the GVL where the current Tigers compete each week.
Strewn throughout the sashes are the dates of the most prolific years within the 150, the premiership years.
Hopefully after hearing the mighty Tigerland theme song at the conclusion of the senior match, a select group of jumpers will be auctioned off during post-match presentations.
While the final list of numbers to be auctioned off is almost complete, punters can be assured that the following numbers are definitely up for grabs for those willing to bid on a historic piece of memorabilia.
Numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 are sure to gain some interesting following and the club has kindly provided a little more in-depth analysis of some champion players who have adorned some of these numbers with distinction.
The number 1, previously reserved for the playing coach, creates some interesting back story with coaching greats Noel McMahen and Con O’Toole showcasing their talents throughout the Bendigo League, with aerial specialist and premiership star Robbie Miller spending plenty of time soaring above packs in the number.
Current backline general Hamish Hooppell has now continued a strong representation in the number, becoming one of the most reliable defenders in the current game.
Noel McMahen
McMahen followed through on his promise to deliver Rochester a premiership amid mounting pressure.
The story of McMahen’s move to Rochester scaled almost mythical proportions.
A Melbourne premiership captain leaving the city to coach in a small country town seemed improbable, if not for the commitment of Jack Green, Jack Anderson and the committee.
McMahen coached from 1957 to 1961. In that time, Rochester finished third in 1957, won the 1958 and 1959 flags, and was runner-up in 1960 and 1961.
McMahen played from 1957 to 1959 and was one of Rochester’s best players in both premierships. He represented the BFL in 1958.
The club also won the 1958 reserves flag during his reign. McMahen helped the club win respect and relevance in country Victorian football circles.
Con O’Toole
O’Toole came from Rushworth, collected the 1955 Morrison Medal and played for Melbourne before joining Rochester in 1961.
He took over the coaching reigns from Noel McMahen in 1962 and led the seniors to two consecutive premierships. O’Toole was bestowed Life Membership in 1963 and was universally respected across Victorian football circles.
“(Ex-Collingwood centreman) Billy Serong used to coach Echuca at one stage and that’s when Con O’Toole took him out one day,” Trevor Randall said.
“It was unbelievable, but he was knocking our blokes about. Con was like that — it was the silence.
“He was a great coach, he used to say to myself and Graeme Balch, Balchy was full back, ‘Just go and play your normal game’.
“He didn’t have to tell you much and away we go. We respected him too.”
Number 6 seems to have been a favourite for the club’s forward line key-position players, who combined have sent many an enormous Rochy crowd into delirium, with their goal-kicking prowess.
Peter ‘Woody’ Fuller, Adam Edwards, Robbie Miller, Tim Rasmussen, Elliot Bowen and now hard nut Andy Henderson have all spent significant time in the famous guernsey.
Adam Edwards
“The best recruit Rochester’s had,” Nigel van der Veer said. Edwards joined Rochester from Sunshine in 1989.
Of the same ilk as Frank Fitzpatrick of the 1950s, Edwards exuded a powerful and imposing presence on field with an impressive record of great performances in key games.
“He was a big-time player,” David Williams said.
“I wouldn’t say he stressed out too much during the year, but come the finals, you knew he was the real deal.
“Sometimes he was a bit frustrating with his aggression. He was lucky a few times, but he was fantastic.”
Edwards played in two losing grand finals, in which he contributed seven goals (1990).
He played for Keilor in 1991 but returned in 1992 and kicked three goals in the premiership. He represented GVFL in 1989 and 1992.
Efficient in any position, he could command in the backline or ruck, and dominated as a forward. He played 99 games for 116 career goals with the Tigers.
Elliot Bowen
With his masterful performance in the 2008 grand final, Bowen etched himself into GVFL folklore.
Bowen booted seven goals, including four in the final quarter to help the Tigers clinch the win.
From the start of his career with Rochester in 2006 to 2017, he boasted a long string of achievements: Best and Fairest (2010), GVFL representation (2008 to 2011), and captaincy (2011 to 2015).
Bowen displayed goalkicking proficiency (211 games for 400 goals), as well as exceptional lock-down prowess as a key defender.
His versatility gave tremendous worth to the club over many years.
An undisclosed reserve has been set for all jumpers, with the club to follow up the evening with an online auction to ensure all have an opportunity to gain a special piece of Rochester Football Netball Club history.
Tim Rasmussen
Tim Rasmussen was one of the best midfielders and forwards in the league. He returned full-time to Rochester in 1998 after being on Hawthorn’s supplementary list in 1997.
His football smarts, polish and strong hands unnerved defenders. Rasmussen kicked 324 career goals, with over six goals on 12 occasions, including four hauls of nine.
Rasmussen was among Rochester’s best players in the 1997, 1999, 2001 and 2002 grand finals. He dominated the 1996 under-18s finals series that won him the Freddo McMahon Medal.
Rasmussen’s list of accomplishments included under-18 premiership in 1996, Best and Fairest in 1998, premiership in 1999, leading goalkicker in 2000, and GVFL representation from 1999 to 2001, and 2004.
Anthony McPhee played alongside Rasmussen in the forward line for nearly a decade.
“You just blend easily with some players,” McPhee said.
“I especially worked well with Timmy Rasmussen. We had a really good understanding.
“As soon as he got it at half-forward, you just knew he’d swing around and kick it to you.
“We had a really good relationship, football-wise. Great mark, good onballer, very tough and hard.”
A special photo will be bring all three playing sides together prior to the Reserves match being started, with all players to stand in solidarity with their jumper, before all jumpers become available for purchase via an end of day auction, and online auction.
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