Porter holds key to Roosters' chances

Updated November 5 2012 - 12:04pm, first published April 17 2005 - 1:41pm

MARK Porter demonstrated why he could hold the key to how far North Ballarat goes in the Victorian Football League this year with a masterful ruck display in the Roosters' 32-point win over Geelong on Saturday.
Geelong had the numbers when it came to big men, but the ex-Kangaroos and Carlton tall had the class.
Porter reinforced North Ballarat's belief that he is almost certainly the best ruckman outside the AFL and unlucky not to be still running around at the elite level.
He not only controlled the centre bounces to allow the Roosters to outgun Geelong in clearances, but he also showed the Cats how to operate in general play.
Porter's influence and a rock solid defence allowed North Ballarat to wear down Geelong and ultimately overrun the Cats in a 10-goal second half to salute 17.14 (116) to 12.12 (84).
Although the Roosters did not shake off Geelong until the last 10 minutes when they added quick goals, the Cats' biggest obstacle for the day was overcoming the loss of no-nonsense defender Cameron Mooney, who was sent off
at quarter-time after being reported late in the opening term.
Playing his first game for the season after recovering from an ankle injury, Mooney was expected to use the trip to Ballarat to blow away some cobwebs in readiness for a return to the big time against Port Adelaide on Friday
night.
He was initially given a free rein on a wing and then spent some time on the ball before running into trouble.
North Ballarat head coach Gavin Crosisca gave his six defenders - Andrew McLean, Leigh Ryall, Justin McConnell, Jarrod Edwards, Jarrod McCorkell and Marc Greig - a huge pat on the back.
He said the defence had been given the job of going man-on-man against the taller Geelong attack.
They did the job and more, being rewarded for discipline and persistence.
McLean shut down Geelong's potent centre half-forward Matthew McCarthy, while McConnell and then Ryall kept youngster Nathan Ablett to a handful of touches. Ablett did manage three goals when the match was there for
the taking, but his influence on the encounter was minimal.
Crosisca was confident North Ballarat could out-run the Cats, but well into the second half there was little between the combatants with the high class match played at a hectic pace.
The strength of Shane Hutchinson to run the lines through the midfield and constant positioning of Djaran Whyman and Ayden George at the feet of North Ballarat key forward Nathan Saunders were match-breakers.
Hutchinson powered his way to three goals, including two in the first quarter, while Whyman showed his best touch of the season with four goals. The speedy George snared another three majors as did another hard runner in
Jacob Spolding.
George is a developing type who will only improve as the year goes on.
Saunders was constantly out-numbered three-to-one in the air, but his ability to get the ball to the ground set up numerous goals.
Crosisca said there were many good signs in the win - particularly the effort and intensity - but the Roosters were yet to reach full match fitness.
* Ruckman/forward Stephen Jurica's push for a return had a setback when he injured a shoulder in the reserves.

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