Tigers of old: Bruce Watson’s 1996 premiership team remains the club’s only Under-18 grand final winner in the Goulburn Valley league. Several of that team were at the supporters’ luncheon on Friday, including Brandon Aitken, TIm Rasmussen, Dwight Weeks, James Dullard and Steve Rasmussen. Modern-day player Nick O’Connor and his crew lost to Shepparton in the grand final of 2010, a team which also included current co-captains Nathan Marrone and Nathan McCarty — who were at the event with the club having a bye at the weekend.
Come-from-behind win: Elliot Bowen (second from right) kicked seven goals in Rochester’s 1998 Goulburn Valley League grand final win, including four in the final term when the Tigers came from 19 points behind against Seymour to win the title by three points. Bowen’s match-winning display was supported by two goals from Dylan Cuttriss (second from left), while Perry Oliver and modern-day coach Ash Watson were other grand final stars.
Almost back to back: Rodney “Bluey” Callahan with 1992 premiership heroes Adam Edwards, Darren Chugg, David Putamarosi, Tim Cottam, coach Dave Williams and Warren Martin. Rochester beat Tatura by two points, with Robbie Miller among the other stars at the luncheon. Miller had 19 disposals and took eight marks. Edwards kicked three goals and Nigel Dobell four in the victory, while Williams had 21 disposals and Mick Auld 20. Six of the seven, including Callahan, were part of the 1993 team that lost by two points when Shepparton’s Adam Houlihan slotted an after-the-siren goal. Rochester supporters were celebrating when they realised a free kick had been paid and Houlihan kicked the goal from 40 metres out at Deakin Reserve.
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