The 2010 and 2011 Premiership Clubs go head to head in the last home and away round for Season 2012. It presents a do-or-die match for the North Ballarat Roosters and an opportunity for Port Melbourne to finish on top of the ladder.
The Roosters currently sit on the outer, in ninth place after experiencing a hideous loss to the Werribee Tigers two weeks ago and a bye last round. Their finals hopes were all but ended last night when Bendigo defeated Box Hill - putting the Gold 4 points and % ahead of Nth Ballarat on the ladder.
North Ballarat coach Gerard FitzGerald was spied at the Port Melbourne versus Bendigo Gold match on Saturday, scouting the opposition. FitzGerald considers Port Melbourne a force to be reckoned with.
“I thought they (Port Melbourne) were very, very good. Bendigo had picked a quality side but Port didn’t let them into the game.
“The team play for Ayresy very well and he has surrounded himself with a really good unit of staff that he can depend upon.”
This do-or-die match is all but oover for North Ballarat before it has begun. With Bendigo walking away victorious last night, it would take a small miracle for North Ballarat to clinch a top eight spot.
“Everything depends on Friday’s result between Bendigo and Box Hill, but at the end of the day we will be playing for pride and respect. The finals should not change our mind set. We had an extremely poor match last round and we need to focus on turning our performance around this week.”
The Roosters enter this Round 22 contest with the perceived advantage of a home game. FitzGerald hopes that this will benefit his side but also know that Port presents them with a huge obstacle.
“What we have worked hard on in recent years is to travel and win. A good side can always win at home, where as a great Club can travel and win wherever they play,” FitzGerald said.
Port Melbourne coach Gary Ayres finds that the ‘home ground advantage’ argument will hold no weight when his side travels to Ballarat this Saturday.
“We go to North Ballarat this weekend knowing that our last performance at Ballarat was a very good one. We lost Toby Pinwill and Adam Bentick during that match and finished strong to win by 10 goals. That gives us confidence.”
The Club will also approach this match with the extra assurance knowing that with skill aside, their team can run out a match with plenty in the tank.
“I was very happy with our finish to the game against Bendigo. We believe our fitness is an integral part of the way we play and the sustained pressure that we exerted on Bendigo was evident for the entire match. Match fitness over four quarters is a huge advantage and none more so in finals especially if games are tight.”
Ayres considers this encounter with North Ballarat to be an integral step in their upcoming finals campaign.
“(The match is) extremely important because of the calibre of the opposition and Fitzy as coach. The Roosters still have a hope of making the final eight and we want to finish top two so the game is of paramount importance to us to win and we will be going hard to deny them a win,” Ayres said.
It is evident that both coaches involved hold each other in high esteem and with good reason given their decorated records over many years of football. It will not only be a battle two distinguished teams this weekend, but also two legendary coaches.
Last Modified on 25/08/2012 10:58