VFL: Roosters list thins further as another premiership player retires
DAVID BREHAUT
14 Oct, 2010 01:00 AM
The rebuilding task facing reigning VFL premiers North Ballarat next year continues to escalate.
Leigh Harding's retirement from North Melbourne yesterday means the Selkirk Roosters will most likely have fewer experienced players from the Kangaroos to call on and therefore an even younger line-up in their bid for four flags in a row. Harding joins Corey Jones in retirement from the North Melbourne list and those Kangaroos who were part of the Roosters' grand final winning team against Northern Bullants.
They have also lost the experience of David Hale from North Melbourne after his trade to Hawthorn and Josh Smith , who has returned to Western Australia after playing in three VFL premierships.
These on top the retirement of skipper Shaune Moloney and departure of Dan Feery and Stevie Dinnell, who both plan to travel overseas next year, from their VFL list and North Ballarat can only get younger.
The 29-year-old Harding retires after an 141-game AFL career. Originally from Bannockburn, he debuted with the Kangaroos in 2001 and played in this year's North Ballarat premiership.
Each of Rooster's three premiership teams has featured key players from the North Melbourne list.
In 2008 there was Eddie Sansbury, Blake Grima, Andrew Swallow; in 2009, Corey Jones, Shannon Watt, Aaron Edwards, Michael Wundke; and in 2010 there was Corey Jones, David Hale, Leigh Harding, Josh Smith.
The youthful nature of the North Melbourne list means the Roosters will have to rely on experience from their own ranks to anchor their team.
