Australian Football

Originally from Echuca, Geoff Rosenow played 147 VFL games for Geelong between 1962 and 1970, kicking seven goals. A strong, one grab mark, and quite pacy for a big (188 cm, 87 kg) man, he played the game hard but fair, and gave excellent value as both a ruckman and a defender. If he had a weakness, it was that his kicking was erratic - something that became much more of a drawback with the introduction of the kicking out of bounds on the full rule in 1969.

Once his VFL career was over, Rosenow coached Wangaratta for four seasons, winning the club's best and fairest award in 1973, before being appointed captain coach of second division VFA side Mordialloc in 1975. Under Rosenow, the Bloods enjoyed the most auspicious era in their history, reaching consecutive Grand Finals in 1976 (lost to Williamstown) and 1977 (defeated Yarraville). Rosenow stayed on to oversee the side's debut in division one, but when they were relegated he resigned.

Appointed playing coach of Rochester in the Goulburn Valley Football League in 1979, Rosenow took the Tigers to finals in 1980¹, but his team was eliminated in 'straight sets'. Rosenow coached Rochester until 1982.

The 1983 season saw Rosenow back as coach of the Bloods, and he managed to get the side as far as the second division Preliminary Final. In 1984, however, the club's dire financial plight began to take its toll. Only five wins from 17 matches were recorded that year, and at season's end Rosenow departed, this time for good.

Author - John Devaney, with an update by Andrew Gigacz