North Ballarat news

From Ballarat Courier
Reported by Melanie Whelan
Full Story Click Here

EXCELLENTLY prepared. Encouraging teacher and astute learner. Constantly evolving his tactics. Highly respectful of the game, the league and its players. Genuinely interested in the stories behind his players and the staff he works alongside.

Fiercely competitive.

These are consistent themes in how peers and players describe Gerard FitzGerald’s coaching style, characteristics fine-tuned in his tenures with North Ballarat Roosters. This is how he plans to sign off.

FitzGerald will close a coaching chapter with the Selkirk Roosters in the Victorian Football League on Saturday. He will lead the club into battle against standalone club Coburg, a team led by long-time friend and rival Peter German.

From the Ballarat Courier
Reported by Melanie Whelan
Full article - Click here

NORTH Ballarat Roosters coach Gerard FitzGerald has called for a league review into stricter match-day schedules.

Both the Roosters and Werribee were delayed in taking to the field for final pre-match warm-ups for their Victorian Football League match after a prolonged curtain-raiser match for the Tigers’ development team.

VFL team managers from each club called on umpires to intervene and allow players more time to finish warming up before a short Anzac Day commemoration.

FitzGerald said it should not have got to that point – the league must reconsider tightening match-day timelines, especially when marking special occasions.

Rules on ground access and curtain-raiser timing are strict in the AFL, and the Roosters will be under such conditions in three weeks time for a clash with Northern Blues at Etihad Stadium. Ballarat Football League reserves matches play set 24-minute quarters that can be adjusted.

From the Herald Sun
Reported by Paul Amy
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THE 2015 VFL season kicks off on Friday with Werribee hosting Geelong under lights. Leader sports editor Paul Amy rounds up each club’s ins and outs.

BOX HILL HAWKS

Coach: Marco Bello

Last year: runner-up to Footscray Bulldogs

In: Cadeyn Williams (Richmond), Jack Sandric (Hobart City), Lochie Adey, James Handley (Blackburn), Matthew Burt, Chris Jones, Liam Kidd, Matthew Traynor (Eastern Ranges), Billy Murphy, Sam Switkowski (Northern Knights), James Sullivan (Tatura), Patrick Dillon (Donvale), Xavier Dimasi (Assumption/Calder Cannons), Ben Fitzpatrick (Korumburra/Bena), Dalton Graham (Sandringham).

Out: Luke Andrews, Callan Burns, Corey Cassidy, Sam Cust, Jackson Eade, Tom Goodwin, Jake Kalanj, Tom Miles, Xavier Murphy, Matt Northe, Nick Papadopoulos, Kalem Post, Michael Thompson, Brandon Wood.

The verdict: the Hawks have lost top-line midfielders in Xavier Murphy and Luke Andrew as well as the emerging Brandon Wood. But they’ve picked up former Tiger Cadeyn Williams and have good young players coming through in support of senior men Sam Iles, David Mirra, Marc Lock and Liam Tobin. Premiers in 2013 and runners-up last year, there’s no reason to think there will be a slackening of standards.

Player watch: Mitch O’Donnell. He’s as hard as a coffin nail and he’ll be granted more opportunity after an excellent pre-season.

Celebrating season 2014 with the Casey Scorpions and A Positive Move

Click on read more for a full club by club report.

From the Ballarat Courier
Reported by Melanie Whelan
Full article - Click here

NORTH Ballarat Roosters’ Gerard FitzGerald will equal the all-time VFL/VFA games coached record this week.

Gerard FitzGerald will coach his 313rd VFL/VFA match this week.

The Roosters’ triple premiership coach is set to draw level with the legendary Bill Faul’s 313-game tally – a league benchmark that has stood since 1959 – when he leads the Selkirk Roosters into battle against returned Victorian Football League contender Footscray at Eureka Stadium on Sunday.

Their coaching logs will remain even for at least a fortnight as the Roosters have a bye next week before FitzGerald can make his record-breaking bid on May 18 in a clash with Frankston.

In a nice twist of fate, FitzGerald will equal and break the record at Eureka Stadium, having also chalked up his 300-game league coaching milestone at the Roosters’ home venue in round 12 last season.

From Ballarat Courier
Reported by Michael Pollock
Full Story Click Here

NORTH Ballarat is set for a blockbuster start to the 2014 Peter Jackson VFL home and away season, with the club learning yesterday that it will play four stand-alone VFL sides in the opening five rounds.

The release of the 2014 fixture has seen a fan-friendly draw for the Selkirk Roosters, who will open their season on March 29 against Collingwood for the second straight year.

North Ballarat Roosters football manager Marg Richards is excited about the potential of the draw to bring supporters to games, but is also keen to see how the club adapts to the changing competition after cutting its development league team earlier this year.

From the Ballarat Courier
Reported by Melanie Whelan
Full article - Click here

IF MANAGED well, North Ballarat Roosters' decision to axe its development team will fast-track how the game is evolving in Ballarat community clubs.

There are so many logistical issues yet to come into play - and the club has assured it will work with all parties to smooth these out. It already has for most.

But the basics are this: the Selkirk Roosters are competitive players in arguably the nation's best state league; the club works closely in partnership with North Melbourne, including access to Kangaroos' facilities and tactical assessments; players are exposed to AFL-listed players, with by playing with or against, every game.

Players on the Roosters' list, which will be cut to about 35, will be expected to step straight into Victorian Football League games when needed.

Those not needed could be playing at your community club.

This will mean the Roosters will need to strengthen relationships with their players' designated clubs to ensure the best for all parties.

Entire article: http://www.thecourier.com.au/story/1761261/ballarat-football-will-improv...

Comment Thread: http://www.vflfooty.com/node/8719

ABC local radio Ballarat this morning announced that North Ballarat will not be fielding a DL side next year. Fitzy said it was unsustainable, and that players not required for the Roosters could play in their local teams. No mention in Ballarat Courier.
No mention of this was made during the "Inside Mail" program on 3RBA 102.3, by announcer Paul Taylor, Fitzy or the Ballarat FL bloke, Liam Brady. I expected comments as to how the Roosters having no DL team will affect Ballarat and other leagues.

From Ballarat Courier
Reported by Melanie Whelan
Full Story Click Here

TOUGH North Ballarat onballer Steve Clifton has captured the Victorian Football League’s highest individual honour in a three-way tie.

Clifton, Geelong’s Jordan Schroder and Box Hill’s Mitch Hallahan were declared joint JJ Liston Trophy winners on 17 votes apiece in Etihad Stadium’s Victory Room last night.

Northern Blues Kane Lambert fell one vote shy of completing a historic four-way tie.

This is the second time Clifton has pulled on the prestigious medal, becoming the first Rooster in the club’s history to achieve the feat.