Re: Official GVFL thread
Tigers take on United
March 27 2007
Campaspe News
Rochester Football Netball Club continues its preparation for the 2007 season with a full-scale practice match on Saturday at Rochester Recreation Reserve.
With a relatively successful recruiting campaign over the summer break, both senior and reserve sides should field competitive units.
The senior side, under the captaincy of Heath Aitken, with vice captains Dean Moon and Kahl Oliver, sees a shift in the leadership group to the young guns of the team.
Aitken, a courageous player in his own right, will certainly lead by example, as will his vice captains.
Ash Watson, Ben Anderson, Carl Moon, Mark Watson, Andrew Palmer and Nick Knight, as recruits, show the direction the club has taken in recruiting local, wellestablished footballers back to the club.
Add in Phil Lobbs, Brad Crockett, Jarrod Ezard, Brad Major and Mark Emmerson, then toss in Anthony McPhee, Clint Whitsed, Mick Loughman, Elliot Bowen, Daniel Schmidt, Russ Weekley, Brodie Montague, Adrian Pappin, Scott Hann, Matt Letcher, Matt Hyden, Nathan Whipp, Dylan Cuttris, Sam Williams, Lachy O'Connor, Tim Bubb, Matt Penny, Matt Haitsma and Paul Crockford and the depth of the team stacks up against any opposition in the Goulburn Valley Football League.
The reserves, under coach David Moon, and captained once again by Brayden Aitken, will have some good players going around, adding pressure for the senior group to perform each week - something the club has not had for a long time.
Depth will play a huge part in the 2007 season and each player will need to be at their best to keep their spot.
The thirds have been struggling for numbers, but, with commitment from Greg Doolan to help out coach Michael Haisman and assistant Greg Ingram in talking to the district boys and building up numbers, the situation should be rectified by the season start on April 14.
The off-field side of the club has it in a strong state with Barry Powles as president, Glenn Anderson vice president, Rob Aitken assuming the role as football manager and David Hodgens going into his 15th year as senior team manager.