NORTH Ballarat skipper Marc Grieg will become the first Rooster to clock up 200 games when his side meets Geelong in an AFL curtain raiser at Simonds Stadium on Saturday, as Samantha Landy reports.
Greig will become just the 46th VFA/VFL player to reach this milestone, joining the likes of Coburg champion turned ABC commentator Phil Cleary and Box Hill Hawks coach Damian Carroll.
He will also extend his record for most games played at North Ballarat which he claimed last year, surpassing former Roosters captain Shaune Moloney’s 187 games for the club.
Geelong will also celebrate a significant milestone this weekend, with the club’s playing assistant coach Dom Gleeson playing his 150th game.
While Gleeson recorded majority of these games with his former club Werribee, the veteran’s contribution to the Cats has been noteworthy since they recruited him at the end of last year.
Both North Ballarat and Geelong will be keen to get back onto the winners list on Saturday to honour these stars, but also to make amends for damning losses before last weekend’s bye (to accommodate the Victoria versus Tasmania State Game).
The Roosters went down to Box Hill by 81-points on a wet and windy day in Round 9, demoting them to 11th place on the ladder.
North Ballarat never recovered after surrendering a 51-point lead at half time, with the Hawks extending their lead at each break.
Liam Anthony was best afield for the Roosters with 35 touches, supported strongly by Cruize Garlett (34 touches, one goal), backman Michael Searl (14 touches, six marks) and Cameron Richardson (25 touches).
The Roosters didn’t have any multiple goal scorers with Dean Towers, Lachie George, Tom Curran, Paul McMahon, Aaron Mullett, Derick Micallef, Aaron Black and Garlett each chipping in single majors.
Geelong lost by just four points against Sandringham before the bye despite closing in fast at the finish, booting five goals to three in the final quarter.
The Cats slipped to seventh place on the ladder with the loss.
Defender Andrew McLean was dubbed best on ground for Geelong, compiling 15 possessions and taking six marks. Jonathan Simpkin (31 possessions, eight marks, seven tackles) also starred, along with Jed Bews, skipper Troy Selwood and George Horlin-Smith.
Jackson Hollmer contributed with four goals.
North Ballarat had the better of Geelong has season, winning by 45 points on the teams’ one meeting.
The Roosters’ state representatives also proved to be in fine form last weekend against Tasmania, with Myles Sewell racking up 26 touches and a goal in a dominant midfield display, Towers being named among the best for his goal and run along the wing, and Liam Hoy compiling 19 possessions.
But the Cats will enjoy the home ground advantage and hopefully the support of a strong Geelong crowd piling into Simonds Stadium early to prepare for the senior side’s clash against Greater Western Sydney.
This one is hard to call, with both teams suffering in terms of form (Geelong hasn’t recorded a win since April and North Ballarat only has two victories to its name for the season).
The Cats should win according to ladder position, but the Roosters can’t be counted out, especially with their captain’s remarkable milestone to serve as motivation.
Last Modified on 01/06/2012 16:45