News

While the traditional Ballarat-Bendigo sporting rivalry has occupied the top billing for the Selkirk Roosters for close to a decade, there has been a slight shift over the past few seasons.

As far as the public is concerned, there is still enormous emotion in a North Ballarat and Bendigo Bombers clash.

All you have to do is sit in the grandstand among Bomber supporters at the Queen Elizabeth Oval to experience that.

Out on the ground though, the feeling in a North Ballarat and Tasmania clash is becoming more intense each time they meet.

It is only natural, with each aligned to the Kangaroos in the AFL.

There is nothing like throwing "teammates" into battle against each other to bring out the true competitivenes in a player.

Roosters coach Gerard FitzGerald agreed that the North Ballarat and Bendigo rivalry was certainly not at the same level as it had been before the teams were aligned with AFL clubs.

Although he certainly believes there remains a strong regional city rivalry.

As far as Tasmania goes, FitzGerald said Tasmanian coach Darren Cresswell saw the Roosters as a natural rival because of the Kangaroos links.

And FitzGerald said there was certainly a lot feeling among players at Arden Street.

"There's always intensity in an intra-club game.

"I am expecting the match to have that extra edge," he said.

North Ballarat has a much greater Kangaroos influence, with the Devils having only six Kangaroos players boasting only a handful of AFL appearances.

Boom recruit Lachlan Hansen will be a focus for Tasmania and a player North Ballarat needs to watch.

Tasmania defeated the Roosters in a practice match at Learmonth.

The Devils had far too much pace, and full forward Adam Derbyshire had a day out.

The Roosters have Shaune Moloney back and ready to nullify this avenue to goal, but signficantly they have refined their own running game.

If North Ballarat can rediscover the touch they showed in an eight-goal opening quarter against Coburg on Sunday, there will no stopping them.

But there will be no time to take the foot off the pedal as they did when in control of the Coburg Tigers. Last night Orren Stephenson (corked thigh), and first-year players Lachie George (shin) and Ryan Waight (hamstring)

were given the all clear to return to the Roosters' line-up after missing the Coburg game.

However, the Kangaroos' Daniel O'Connell is out with a shoulder injury.

THIS WEEKEND'S VFL MATCHES

TODAY: Geelong v Frankston, Port Melbourne v Box Hill Hawks, Werribee v Coburg Tigers

TOMORROW: North Ballarat v Tasmania, Bendigo Bombers v Sadringham, Casey Scorpions v Williamstown, Northern Bullants bye