From Ballarat Courier
Reported by Melanie Whelan
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VICTORY at Craigieburn has set up a massive rematch against Williamstown for the North Ballarat Roosters.
This time the Selkirk Roosters will play the Victorian Football League clash on their home turf.
Most importantly, the match is a chance to back up exactly what they started.
Last month, the Roosters stunned a highly fancied Seagulls in a seven-to-one opening term and held strong for a 13-point win at Keilor.
It marked the Roosters as a firm flag contender for the first time this season.
Since then the Roosters have worked into a top-three spot and dropped the one match against undefeated ladder leader Port Melbourne.
This does not mean the Roosters have taken any game lightly – they were hassled by Box Hill early last round and Roosters’ coach Gerard FitzGerald pegged Coburg at Craigieburn a particular danger game.
The Tigers belted finals contender Bendigo at the same venue a fortnight ago. FitzGerald said the even nature of the VFL meant it was hazardous to assume anything on ladder position and season record.
Powerhouse Port Melbourne had to claw back from two points down to beat Sandringham on Saturday, and Box Hill’s 57-point upset trouncing of Northern Bullants has put the Roosters a game clear in third spot.
FitzGerald said there was plenty of hype about percentage and, while the Roosters received a healthy boost from their 92-point win against Coburg, everything for his players came down to getting processes right week in, week out.
“Building percentage is only an outcome – it has to come back to what we need to do and do well,†FitzGerald said.
“We must be mindful to continue to play organised, methodical and disciplined football.â€
This is why, FitzGerald says, his team’s tight defensive pressure in the second and fourth quarters against Coburg were just as important as their eight-goal hauls of the first and third.
Tackling is the key indicator the Roosters use to measure effort and intensity when they do not have the ball.
For the second half on Saturday, the tackle count hit 38 with a good spread across the board, which FitzGerald said was particularly pleasing.
While the Roosters can take confidence into the clash with Williamstown on Saturday, FitzGerald said the match was a massive challenge to see how far his team had progressed.
Adding to the test, the Roosters have limited access to Eureka Stadium this week due to the Ballarat Associated Schools’ football final on Wednesday night and will instead train at Eastern Oval.
