North Ballarat news

Roosters forward line at full strength

By administrator August 23, 2008
From the Ballarat Courier
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PLAYMAKER: Tom Roach should stamp his authority on today's clash with Tasmania in Hobart.

NORTH BALLARAT takes a wealth of attacking power into battle with Tasmania in the Victorian Football League in Hobart today.

The return of North Melbourne-listed Josh Smith gives the Selkirk Roosters potentially five big key forwards.

Smith lines up alongside Paul McMahon, and North Melbourne team-mates Michael Wundke, Aaron Edwards and Robbie Tarrant.

The combination of McMahon, Smith and Wundke has worked extremely well and been instrumental in developing North Ballarat into a premiership contender.

McHugh earns recall for Cats encounter

By administrator July 18, 2008

From the Ballarat Courier
Reported by Nick Wade

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ROHAN McHUGH has earned a recall for North Ballarat's encounter with Geelong in the Victorian Football League in Geelong tomorrow.

McHugh has not played since North Ballarat's heavy loss to the Northern Bullants on May 18.

Having made his senior debut in the opening round, he played the opening seven matches before being dropped in the fall-out from the Bullants calamity.

McHugh is one of three compulsory changes for the Selkirk Roosters, which meet the Cats in the curtain-raiser AFL match of the day between Geelong and Western Bulldogs.

Jesse Smith returns for North Ballarat Roosters

By administrator July 05, 2008

From the Ballarat Courier
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DEFENDER Jesse Smith returns from the football wilderness for North Ballarat against Sandringham in the VFL in Ballarat on Sunday.

The highly talented North Melbourne-listed youngster has not played since tearing a hamstring against Tasmania on May 10.

He has missed five VFL matches and also the opportunity to return to the Kangaroos, where Smith is so well regarded that when fit is an automatic selection.

North Ballarat had planned to ease Smith back through the reserves a few weeks ago, but twice he has had to withdraw.

Selkirk Roosters football manager Marg Richards said an extra couple of weeks on the training track meant Smith was able to go straight back in the seniors.

Roosters crow for coach Fitzgerald\'s 200th game

By administrator June 29, 2008

From The Sunday Age
Reported by Michael Sharkie

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NORTH Ballarat celebrated coach Gerard Fitzgerald's 200th game in the best possible style yesterday, beating top side Williamstown by 48 points to remain unbeaten at home this season.

The Roosters jumped the league leader early, kicking 5.4 to just two behinds in the first quarter. North Ballarat continued to control the game barring a 15-minute lapse in the third quarter when it was outscored by the top side, who looked briefly as though it may pull off the most unlikely of comebacks.

However, the Roosters' stranglehold would prove too much for the Seagulls with prime movers Brett Johnson and Ben Jolley given little peace by Myles Sewell and Ed Lower. Dean Chester, Blake Grima and Stephen Clifton were consistent for the home side with the Roosters finding numbers in attack for the second week running with 10 different goal kickers.

Wundke helps give Roosters plenty to crow about

By administrator June 22, 2008
From the Sunday Age
Reported by Michael Sharkie

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THE country came to the city for the VFL match of the day yesterday as regional powerhouses Bendigo and North Ballarat locked horns at Windy Hill, with the Ballarat side prevailing by 13 points.

A strong cross-ground breeze made precision football difficult, but in a lively first term, Kangaroo rookie Michael Wundke stamped his presence on the game up forward with two early goals. Grant Weeks was just as good for the Bombers but failed to convert his opportunities on the scoreboard.

Although North Ballarat held an early advantage, Bendigo had most of the play. However, the Bombers were not as constructive and lacked drive from the back line.

Roosters hope to build on great early success

By administrator April 19, 2008
From the Ballarat Courier
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NORTH Ballarat captain Shaune Moloney believes the Roosters are reaping the benefits of the lesson dealt out to them by Geelong in a VFL preliminary final last year.
"Geelong showed us where we need to be," he said.

"They showed that we needed to step up in our preparation."

The Cats steamrolled the Selkirk Roosters in the last quarter of the final - producing a nine-goal blitz to win by 62 points and go on to take out the VFL premiership.

"We've got a really committed bunch of fellows.

"It's been obvious right through the pre-season and into the start of the season," Moloney said.

Hurting Tigers await Roosters

By administrator April 11, 2008
From the Ballarat Courier
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NORTH Ballarat has the potential to be on the end of a Richmond selection backlash in the Victorian Football League on Saturday.

The Selkirk Roosters face the Richmond-aligned Coburg Tigers, which is already stung by its own capitulation against Northern Bullants.

But Coburg might also feature several out-of-favour Richmond players with plenty to prove.

Richmond coach Terry Wallace is threatening to wield the axe after a heavy loss to Collingwood, with up to six players - including established star Joel Bowden - reportedly in his sights. But nothing will distract North Ballarat coach Gerard FitzGerald as he prepares to stretch the Roosters' unbeaten run to three in their first venture away from home.

FitzGerald constantly talks about the fluid nature of the VFL created by AFL alignments - accepting the potential for significant change in the make-up of opposition teams from week-to-week. He is already wary of last year's VFL grand finalist, so nothing will sway him from his ever cautious approach.

Roosters shun home ground

By administrator February 01, 2008
From the Ballarat Courier
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NORTH Ballarat Roosters are in a self-imposed exile from their home ground owing to concerns about player welfare on the drought-affected playing surface.

Roosters head coach Gerard FitzGerald fears that constant training on the hard ground is a potential threat to the fitness of his player list.

"It is getting better, but we still have issues and have decided to stay off."

FitzGerald is not alone in his concerns about AUSTAR Arena - two months out from the start of the VFL season.

AFL club St Kilda has switched its main training session during a community camp in Ballarat next week from AUSTAR Arena to Ballarat Grammar School.

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