North Ballarat has ended their shaky start to the season, after running over the top of Collingwood in a final term blitz last Saturday to win by 45-points. Brendan Lucas reports.
After recording losses in the first two games of the season, the Roosters were out to make a statement.
Collingwood matched the Roosters for most of the day, holding a one-point lead heading into the final term despite kicking 17 behinds.
North Ballarat coach Gerard Fitzgerald asked for the “reliable” over the “remarkable” at three quarter time, and the Roosters delivered.
A goal to Kirk Ugle to start the last quarter gave Collingwood the early momentum. However, it was all one-way traffic after that goal as the Roosters kicked eight unanswered goals to run out big winners.
Marcus Darmody (29 possessions) was a workhorse down back for the Roosters, whilst regular forward Bill Driscoll kicked four for the day.
The scores were tied midway through the second term, but it was the Roosters’ pace and spread which proved far more damaging in the clearances and stoppages.
At half time the Roosters led by two goals.
Collingwood contested well in the third term, but both sides wasted opportunities.
At the 16-minute mark Marley Williams broke the drought for Collingwood, but a captain’s goal from Marc Greig late in the third brought them within one-point at the final change.
Collingwood’s loss was soured further after an injury sustained to Caolan Mooney saw him stretchered off at the 21-min mark of the final term.
Coach Gerard FitzGerald said after the game that he was impressed with his side’s ability to put together four quarters after a poor start to the season.
“We haven’t been finishing games very well this year, so it is a good sign for our method, but also for our confidence,” he said.
“I thought we arm wrestled better today. It was more like a North Ballarat performance, not the one’s we have seen in the last two weeks where it has been too easy to score against us.”
FitzGerald also believed that finding a blend of youth and experience was important to creating a winning formula.
“I think it was also good to show faith in our younger boys again. It just shows under pressure we will play our younger boys, and I was very pleased with them particularly Marcus (Darmody) and Liam Hoy.
“We are really proud of our leadership program at this club, and we are proud of the fact that it will positively influence our performance, and we saw today our leaders roll up their sleeves and commit to the cause.”
North Ballarat will meet an out-of-form Williamstown side at Eureka Stadium in Ballarat this Saturday in the ABC TV game, whilst winless sides Collingwood and the Northern Blues will face off.
Photo by Robert Stevens
Last Modified on 09/04/2012 15:20