Rodd failed to recover sufficiently enough from a corked leg suffered against Richmond on Saturday.

He was initially named in the line-up, but later found to be short of 100 per cent for what will be just North Ballarat’s second home game of the season.

Roosters coach Marc Greig said Rodd had been given every chance.

“He hasn’t come up.”

He said the recovery process had not advanced as much as they had hoped it would.

Rodd has been replaced by Keegan Mellington, who was 23^rd man against Richmond.

This will be the first time Mellington has been selected in the 22.

The Roosters catch Port Melbourne off a loss to Footscray – enough for Greig to believe they have a genuine winning chance.

He said Port Melbourne was not travelling that well.

Like North Ballarat, the Borough has not scored more than 100 points in a game this season, although it does have three wins. The Roosters sit on the bottom with one win.

Greig said North Ballarat had been realistic about its prospects each week.

“We never say we can’t win, but we’ve known there have been games in which we were up against it.”

Greig said the final scoreline in the loss to Richmond  – 142 to 63 –  had not told the full story.

He said the Roosters had gone into half-time matching the Tigers across the board, but paid a heavy price for having an injury-reduced interchange.

Greig said despite more injuries to Andrew Boseley, Liam Youl and Mitch Rodd, they were starting to get a better equipped and balanced combination with the return of Lachie George, and additions of recruits Ollie Tate, Matt Eagles and Daniel Cox over the past few weeks.

He is particularly up and about as to what Eagles offers a big forward. Greig said the Queenslander’s inclusion opened up options.

Greig said the Roosters continued to work on the basics, with improving ball movement still a priority.

North Ballarat will get another week off next weekend when the VFL plays the SANFL at the Adelaide Oval.

Roosters’ injury update: Andrew Boseley (abductor) 2 weeks, Jackson Carrick (groin) 1-2 weeks, Louis Herbert (hamstring) 1 week, Andrew Hooper (calf) 1 week, Tony Lockyer (ankle)  2 weeks, Xavier Vearing (ankle) 2 weeks, Liam Youl (hamstring) 4-6 weeks