Tigers dreaming of glory after prelim triumph

The final hurdle to better its 2024 result was a preliminary final against Mansfield at Deakin Reserve on Sunday, and with the sides’ last meeting ending in a draw, it was anyone’s game.

Rochester got the early jump, booting the first three goals straight and a barrage of behinds had the Tigers ahead 21-1.

The Eagles responded to the run and by quarter-time the lead had been cut to two.

Mansfield would go on to take its first lead early in the second, getting out by as much as 16, but the Tigers finished the half with the momentum to enjoy a four-point advantage at the main break.

The third quarter swung the pendulum a little further towards Rochester, and goals to Sean Williams, James McPhee and Nate Rasmussen allowed the Tigers to outpace Mansfield by eight in the period, extending their lead to 12.

The final term was all Rochester as the Tigers shut down the Eagles’ attack, keeping them goalless, while slotting another two majors to stroll into the grand final 11.15 (81) to 7.13 (55).

“We started well, came out well, and put some good pressure on early and locked the ball in our forward half,” coach Ash Watson said.

“They challenged us a fair bit in that second term and they capitalised on their momentum.

“(It was) a bit of an arm wrestle in the second half and then we pulled away in the end, and I was happy the way we slowed the game down towards the end of the game.”

Drew Lloyd was forceful in midfield, earning best-on-ground honours for his side.

Lloyd spent the early part of the year with Port Melbourne in the VFL, but linked up with the Tigers from round 10.

“Really grateful to have him there, he’s slotted in the team nicely,” Watson said.

“(Lloyd) gets on with the fellas really well, has got some good connections within the group, and he had an outstanding game yesterday.

“Won his uncontested ball, used the ball really well, and then had scoreboard impact as well.”

Rochester now faces up to the might of Kyabram in the decider.

The Bombers claimed the minor premiership this season and defeated the Tigers by 62 and 42 points in previous 2025 meetings.

“No doubt we’ll try and do a few things differently,” Watson said.

“They’ve had our measure pretty comfortably the last couple of times we’ve played them.

“Obviously, we’ll go in as underdogs, but we know stranger things can happen in a grand final, so we’ll be applying high pressure and trying to play our way.

“Anything can happen for us.

“It’s been a great journey so far, but the story’s not finished, and we’re going to have one last crack at it this weekend.”

The blockbuster GVL senior grand final is scheduled for 2.40pm at Deakin Reserve on Sunday.