Experienced club leaders set the tone in a gripping battle with Victorian Football League benchmark Box Hill last week but an emerging band of second and third-year players impressed. Their consistency and adaptability has shown in North Ballarat Roosters’ past six weeks.

Team leaders formed an accountable and measurable plan to turn their season around on the back of notable heavy losses and younger Roosters are delivering.

Onballer Nick Rippon chalked up 28 touches, 11 clearances against high-quality Hawks last week. Midfielder James Tsitas was second-highest in the Roosters’ disposal count with 26. Jarrod Bacon and Coleman Schache, a fouth-year Rooster, are consistent.

A key example is defender Tony Lockyer, who missed selection in round one last season, earned his spot and has not missed a game since. The third-year Rooster is now a firm back line fixture.

The Roosters face another huge test on Saturday with Essendon at Windy Hill. Roosters’ coach Gerard FitzGerald said his team was now believing they could match the best.

FitzGerald said Roosters’ supporters were heartened by the Box Hill game, which the Roosters lost on the final kick, and the club’s next challenge was a process to stay competitive when a partnership with AFL club North Melbourne finished at the season’s end. These emerging players were a good start.

ESSENDON v ROOSTERS

Windy Hill, Sat at noon

ROOSTERS TEAM – B: Warren Tippett Schache; HB: Kiel Staley Lockyer; C: Bacon Tsitas McKenzie; HF: George Keeble Couch; F: A Hooper Thomas Nahas; R: Preuss Sewell Rippon; Inter: Hoy Boseley Stephenson Dumont Johnston. Emerg: Bolton Marshall Werts Scott.