It was a sense of déjà vu for North Ballarat captain Myles Sewell last Saturday at Windy Hill.
For the second time in two years the Roosters leader was asked to call for a headcount, this time against Essendon late in the first quarter of their Round 14 clash, as Shane Goss reports.
With Sewell on the bench, the message came down from the coaches box that they believed Essendon had an extra player on the field after Gerard FitzGerald and his staff had double and triple checked their rotations and match-ups.
The captain was rushed back onto the field to call for the count, but the result did not go the way of the Roosters, with Essendon found to have the required 18 on the field.
Under AFL Laws of the Game rule 5.5, when a count reveals the opposing side has the permitted number of players on the playing surface, the umpire awards a free kick to the opposing captain, and a 50 metre penalty. This resulted in Kyle Hardingham kicking his second goal to give the Bombers a 25 point lead 28 minutes into the quarter.
It was not a case of history repeating for North Ballarat, as then acting captain Sewell called for a count back in Round 14, 2013 in the clash between the Roosters and Frankston at Frankston Oval.
That day the Dolphins were found to have 19 on the field in the third term and subsequently had their score of 5.8 38 wiped.
While they defeated Frankston that weekend, it was Essendon that took the points this time around, remaining among a cluster of sides pushing for a top four position after holding out the Roosters by 22 points, winning 15.5.95 to 11.7.73.
The Bombers were in control early and with much talked about ruckman Jonathon Giles dominating around the ground and Kyle Hardingham (four goals) a focus up forward.
The Bombers jumped the Roosters kicking seven goals to one in the first quarter to set up their win. The solidly built Jacob Thompson provided an ally for Hardingham up forward kicking three goals to help extend the Bombers lead to 49 points by half-time.
The match appeared destined for a blow out however the Roosters came out fighting in the second half.
Robin Nahas booted two third quarter goals while Lindsay Thomas and Andrew Hooper also found the scoreboard in the small sized Roosters forward half. North Ballarat kicked five goals to two for the term and reduced the deficit to 31 points at the final change.
Tony Lockyer and Joel Tippett tightened up in defence for the Roosters and skipper Sewell, Nick Rippon and Luke Kiel got their hands on the footy creating chances for their forwards up field.
Defender Kiel, who was shifted forward in the final term, booted his second last quarter goal at the 16- minute mark, to get the margin back to 24 points, however, Thompson goaled to steady the ship for the Bombers, with the difference 22 points at the final siren.
Bigman Giles was best on ground with 22 disposals, five marks and his two goals to stake a claim for an AFL debut with the Bombers while Hardingham (16 disposals) and four goals impressed, as did James Polkinghorne and Jordan Schroder. For the Roosters, Sewell (25) tried hard around the middle, Tippett (25) and Lockyer (24) battled manfully in defence and Thomas (12) with two goals and Nahas (15) with nine tackles and three goals did well with limited opportunities.
Essendon's fight for a top four spot continues in Round 15 away to Geelong while North Ballarat now play three in-a-row at home starting with the winless Frankston and will be looking to finish their final year under coach Gerard FitzGerald off in strong fashion.
Photo: Shane Goss
Last Modified on 21/07/2015 14:52