PREMIERSHIPS provide a bond for life.
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Gerard FitzGerald is always prepared to talk about any player he has coached as one of “his boys” – no matter what success they shared on the field.
There is something special though about being part of the ultimate goal together. At the end of the day this is what coaches and players alike are out there to achieve.
FitzGerald has been fortunate to share the experience with three groups of players in his time as North Ballarat Roosters coach in the VFL. So it is fitting that on the day FitzGerald coaches the Selkirk Roosters for the last time one of those premiership players marks another milestone in his football career.
Nick Peters plays his 100th club game with North Ballarat against Coburg at Eureka Stadium on Saturday.
FitzGerald likes nothing better than a story about a player being rewarded for persistence and Peters fits the bill. From Warracknabeal, Peters arrived in the Roosters’ golden era after a best and fairest with the North Ballarat Rebels in the TAC Cup.
His first year on the Roosters’ list was 2008 – a season in which they won an historic first VFL premiership. Although he did manage to make his senior debut in 2009, another premiership year, it was no surprise that he spent most of his first two seasons in the reserves. His breakthrough year came in 2010. Peters had to work hard, but it paid off. He not only played in a premiership team, he was among the Roosters’ best. Since then Peters has spent time interstate and had to battle with injury. And just as he did in that premiership year, he has stuck to his guns to gain be pivotal in the North Ballarat line-up.
James Keeble has been given the all clear to return after a hamstring injury and will play with the Roosters against Coburg, as will Tyler Blake, who replaces Yestin Eades as 23rd player.
North Ballarat is coming off a bye for FitzGerald’s farewell game. While Keeble is a definite starter at centre half forward, FitzGerald will finalise is line-up after Friday night’s training sessions. Matt Austin, Rowan Marshall, Jarrod Bacon and Jordan Staley have been added to an extended interchange, while North Ballarat retains Kangaroos star Daniel Wells for a second game.
Roosters’ line-up (2pm)
B: Warren*, Tippett*, Mullett*
HB: Kiel, Boseley, Lockyer
C: Peters, McKenzie*, Wells*
HF: Dumont*, Keeble, George
F: Couch, Black*, A Hooper
R: Stephenson, Sewell, Rippon
Inter from: Blake, Austin, Preuss*, Schache.Tsitas, Lanyon, Bacon, Marshall, Staley
IN: Blake, Keeble, Austin, Marshall, Bacon, Staley
OUT Eades^, Bastinac*
FORMER North Ballarat Rebel Oscar McDonald will make his AFL debut with Melbourne against Fremantle in Perth on Sunday. The 19-year-old from Edenhope with join older brother and key defender Tom in the Demons’ line-up. McDonald is in his first season with Melbourne after being selected at 53 in last year’s draft.