FIVE of last season's North Ballarat Rebels have the frontrunning to line up with North Ballarat in the Victorian Football League this year.Ryan McKenzie, Tyler George, Jason Linke, Alex Gubbins and Taite Radley are among the new faces training with the Selkirk Roosters.With most of last season's premiership line-up intact, North Ballarat's senior line-up is going to be difficult to break into.However, the Roosters have a tradition of pushing up youngsters who have advanced through the Rebels.Almost half North Ballarat's premiership team played with the Rebels _ Dean Chester, Steve Clifton, Billy Driscoll, Dan Feery, Brett Goodes, Marc Greig, Michael Searl, Myles Sewell and Matt Sharkey.Roosters coach Gerard FitzGerald said the biggest challenge facing his players this year was to get better as individuals and as a team."We have to get better across the board."And FitzGerald is rapt with the way his squad has returned pre-season training after the Christmas-New Year break _ especially the players' athleticism."They're so committed," he said.He said beep tests, skin folds and 1600-metre time trials had all been highly impressive.FitzGerald is also delighted to have kept the bulk of the premiership team intact."(Player) retention has been the club's main priority."It's been exceptional to be able to keep the nucleus of the side."North Ballarat has confirmed the loss of 19 players from its VFL list and there is the possibility of another couple of players moving on.Of the departures, just five managed senior appearances with the Roosters: Ben Taylor (Lake Wendouree), Jake Dignan (Buninyong), Ryan Waight (Redan), Brendan Peace (Redan) and Dan McConnell.Other definite losses: Josh Caldow, Tim Hassell, Ricky Allan, Sam Faure, Ben Fritsch, Tom Gleeson, Brad Hartigan (left during last season), Damien Horbury, Sean McDougall, Matt Raworth, Jagen Ross, Jarrod Searle, Simon Seddon, Bryce Tickner.Caldow studies in Melbourne and is moving to Port Melbourne.