Jacobs made the call amid a most-match address following North Ballarat Roosters' 80-point loss to Port Melbourne on the 'Borough turf on Saturday.

The result was the Selkirk Roosters' fourth loss in five weeks with a margin of 80 points or more.

Roosters head coach Gerard FitzGerald showed players a statistical overview from the outing, then threw the floor open for player leaders to voice their thoughts before club supporters and officials.

North Melbourne-listed Jacobs said he felt the playing group had a lot more confidence last year - and the group had not drastically changed.

Jacobs, backed by fellow Kangarooster Aaron Mullett, referred to the Roosters' win against Footscray last season, saying that Bulldogs outfit had more AFL-listed players in the mix - including a strong core now playing AFL - than the Bulldogs that beat the Roosters by 146 points last week. The Roosters needed a reminder they can still beat top teams.

All players were genuinely and visibly hurting, but Jacobs spoke with a conviction these Roosters had what it took to turn their form completely around. 

Forward James Keeble, in his second game this season, said the could not afford to let teams get on a goal-kicking roll.

That was how they lost to Port Melbourne.

Port slammed on 12 goals to the Roosters' three in the first quarter - Port had five on the board before the Roosters finally made a nice strong play to Liam Hoy directly in front for a goal.

FitzGerald's quarter-time address demanded more aggression and intensity from his players.

Port was fired up. Really fired up. Even though they carried a near-10 goal lead into the first break, each goal was emphatically celebrated with support from a roaring, parochial supporter base.

The onslaught slowed in the second term. It took 10 minutes for Port to get the first goal, which by then had their supporter army getting restless.

A slow, even second quarter gave way to another Port blitz - six goals by the 14-minutes mark, the only break in their momentum was a Lachie George goal about two minutes in.

Down 102 points at the final break, FitzGerald's message was clear: how do you want to leave here? What do you want the other team to think of us?

The Roosters outscored Port by one-straight kick in the final term. This in itself was an important turning point after dropping their last quarter against Footscray 10 goals to two last week.

The Roosters started to get things right around the stoppages - Port's trademark strength - after half-time.

FitzGerald said players and coaches would pull apart what they could do better in stoppages, because an extra defender or great forward structure lacked impact if you were being beaten at the source.

Confidence - how to build it and how to play with it - was top of the Roosters' agenda when players broke into lines meetings on Saturday evening.

They have seven days to regroup before hosting Sandringham at Eureka Stadium next Saturday.

POSSESSIONS

- Port Melbourne 408 (Nathan Batsanis 47, Tom O'Sullivan 31, Damian Mascitti 30)

- North Ballarat 298

BEN JACOBS 32

- 13 kicks, 19 handballs

AARON MULLETT 24

- 16 kicks, 8 handballs

NICK RIPPON 18

- 11 kicks, 7 handballs

NICK PETERS 18

- 7 kicks, 11 handballs

BRAD McKENZIE 17

- 13 kicks, 4 handballs

MYLES SEWELL 17

- 6 kicks, 11 handballs

TACKLES

- Port Melbourne 76

- North Ballarat 69 (Ben Jacobs 9, Andrew Hooper 7)

HIT-OUTS

- Port Melbourne 54 (Sam Gilmore 39)

- North Ballarat 43 (Preuss 21, Marshall 16)

CLEARANCES

- Port Melbourne 58

- North Ballarat 34 (Jacobs 8)

MARKS 

- Port Melbourne 104

- North Ballarat 81

MARKS INSIDE-50M

- Port Melbourne 13

- North Ballarat 6

HANDBALLS

- Port Melborune 190

- North Ballarat 125