Goulburn Valley League: Former VFL star scores first Rochester win

A former VFL star got his first win as senior coach while a competition powerhouse lost again to the league’s surprise packets.

Steve Stroobants broke through for his first win as Rochester coach with a strong performance. Photo: Aaron Cook

Former Coburg VFL star Steve Stroobants couldn’t have found his kicking boots at a better time.

In his first season as Rochester coach, there was a real possibility a year which promised so much could have slipped away in the first five rounds.

Having lost their opening four games, a win against Tatura in the Goulburn Valley League was simply a must for the Tigers on Saturday.

And Stroobants inspired his team to a comfortable 40-point win with five majors off the back of a dominant second half display.

“It was nice to actually kick straight this week,” he said.

“I had been pretty ordinary the past few weeks but it’s more important to come away with the four points.”

This year is the second straight season where the Tigers have started 0-4.

Although they still managed to finish in the top six two years ago.

With that in mind, Stroobants said there had been no reason for him and his players to panic.

“We could have easily been 2-2 before Saturday,” he said.

“In previous weeks we probably let ourselves down at crucial times and didn’t play at our best for long enough.

“We’re making a concerted effort to do our best to stop the amount of scoring opportunities opposition teams get when they have the momentum.”

A positional change for new recruit Jordan Harper saw him produce his best performance in the yellow and black.

Stroobants estimated his move to the wing would have seen the former NEAFL talent collect “40-odd disposals”.

“I spoke to Jordan during the week and he said he probably plays his best footy on the wing,” he said.

“It was nice for him to cap it off with a couple of goals as well. His brother Lachie was also very good.”

Former Port Adelaide and St Kilda player Logan Austin continued his impressive season as well as he kicked another goal.

“We’ve been throwing up whether we should be playing up forward or down back,” Stroobants explained.

“I think we look a lot more dangerous when Logan is inside our forward 50. He’s given us a good target down the line when we’ve needed that bail out kick.”

Rochester will host Mooroopna next weekend.

Seymour do it again

Just a week after Seymour president Gerard O’Sullivan said the young Lions had continued to surprise themselves this season, they’ve gone a step further.

The competition’s surprise packet handed powerhouse Kyabram their second defeat of the season in a 23-point win.

Previously, Kyabram hadn’t lost more than one game in a season since 2015.

Hudson Kaak was a dangerous presence inside 50 as he finished the afternoon with four goals while Dylan Scopel was named the best player on the ground.

Echuca continued their winning ways against Shepparton United as Ruory Kirkby maintained his strong form with three goals.

Euroa was able to bounce back with a thrilling 10-point win over Benalla.

Meanwhile, Mansfield and Mooroopna won their respective games.