NORTH BALLARAT ROOSTERS 14.10 (94)
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NORTHERN BLUES 11.6 (72)
NORTH Ballarat Roosters perfect record at Etihad Stadium remains intact.
This time, the Selkirk Roosters made a 22-point home-and-away win against Carlton's Northern Blues in the Victorian Football League.
Their past three visits the Roosters captured VFL premiership cups. Two were even against the Blues under their old Northern Bullants branding.
Past glory did not feature in Roosters preparations because this new generation is out to create its own history.
Importantly for these Roosters, this visit broke a three game losing streak, the past two of which they lost in excess of 80 points.
Roosters celebrations were dampened by a likely broken wrist to tall Bryce Curnow midway through the final term - after Curnow had booted five goals in a high-flying, tenacious display up forward.
The Roosters looked at home, in perfect conditions, under the closed stadium roof.
Roosters coach Gerard FitzGerald with proud with how his players had responded to turn their form around.
Defence was reinforced and forward drive was sharper.
"That's us. That's how we can play" FitzGerald told players post-match.
"You've opened up your entire season now with a win in Melbourne when no-one thought we could."
The Roosters started steady in a closely fought contest in the first quarter.
Then reminded the Blues that Etihad was Roosters' domain, slamming on 4.7 until the Blues found a late reprieve via a Nick Graham major, 25 minutes into the second quarter.
Blues skipper Brent Bransgrove opened the second half with a quick goal.
Curnow worked his magic. The Roosters booted five goals straight in the next 14 minutes, Curnow kicked three in the rampage, to build a seven-goal lead.
Quick, efficient, emphatic and energetic football.
This was the Roosters at their best.
A late lapse allowed the Blues to work their way back into the game with three late goals leading into an even final quarter.
Relentless defenders Tony Lockyer, Luke Kiel and Max Warren tightened their back line patrol.
Roosters co-captain Myles Sewell (18 disposals, 11 tackles) was named best on ground. That was just how Sewell left off when he last took his game to Etihad Stadium and earned the Norm Goss Medal for best on ground in the VFL grand final.
POSSESSIONS
- North Ballarat 296
- Northern Blues 285
TRENT DUMONT 22
- 19 kicks, 3 handballs
MYLES SEWELL 18
- 12 kicks, 6 handballs
AARON MULLETT
- 12 kicks, 6 handballs
TONY LOCKYER 17
- 13 kicks, 4 handballs
NICK RIPPON 17
- 10 kicks, 7 handballs
HIT-OUTS
- North Ballarat 47 (Stephenson 26, Preuss 13)
- Northern Blues (Warnock 31)
CLEARANCES
- North Ballarat 38
- Northern Blues 35
TACKLES
- North Ballarat 75 (Sewell 11, Peters 9, Lanyon 8)
- Northern Blues 54
MARKS
- North Ballarat 94
- Northern Blues 46
MARKS INSIDE-50M
- North Ballarat 13
- Northern Blues 7
HANDBALLS
- North Ballarat 102
- Northern Blues 133