CHRIS Giampaolo returns to the fold for North Ballarat Roosters against Bendigo Gold at Ballarat’s Eureka Stadium on Saturday.
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Giampaolo rejoins VFL ranks after representing Vic Country.
He has spent most of the season with Redan in the Ballarat Football League – playing just the four games with the Selkirk Roosters.
This will be his first outing with North Ballarat since it defeated Richmond in round 11 on June 22.
Giampaolo is one of four inclusions for North Ballarat,
which will be playing Bendigo Gold for the last time.
Bendigo has announced its intention to drop out of the VFL at the end of the
season – leaving the Roosters as the only country team in the competition.
North Ballarat Rebels second-year player Oscar McDonald from Edenhope-Apsley, will make his VFL debut as the 23rd player.
A younger brother of Melbourne key defender Tom McDonald, he has played in all the Rebels’ 13 matches this season.
The TAC Cup takes a break this weekend.
The Roosters also gain the services of North Melbourne duo Aaron Mullett and Brad McKenzie.
This is Mullett’s second outing with North Ballarat in three rounds.
The Kangaroos dropped the attacking defender two weeks ago, but recalled him after just the one game in the VFL.
However, he did not do enough against St Kilda in Hobart to retain his place for Friday night’s clash with Carlton.
McKenzie’s see-sawing season continues.
He played the first seven rounds in the AFL and then the next five weeks in the VFL.
This will be only his second run with the Roosters since June 14, having been a late inclusion after being the travelling emergency for the St Kilda game.
North Ballarat has lost Nick Couch to knee soreness, North Melbourne’s Trent Dumont is unavailable and James Tsitas has been left out and will play with his home club Grovedale.
david.brehaut@fairfaxmedia.com.au