NORTH Ballarat Roosters might not have come away with the win but it can take plenty away from a vastly improved second half in its VFL clash against Northern Blues at Eureka Stadium.
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The Selkirk Roosters trailed by 45 points early in the third quarter as the game looked to be quickly slipping away.
But they managed to swing the momentum with some impressive passages of play to cut the margin to 17 points half way through the last quarter.
Before Blues captain Tom Wilson converted his set shot to seal the match – 17.10 (112) to 11.15 (81).
The opening quarter delivered one of the Roosters’ flattest starts to a game all season. They conceded three early goals along with 28 marks and 111 possessions to trail by 18 points at the first change.
Coach Marc Greig said it was simply a lack of intensity around the ball.
“Our first quarters have been our positives,” Greig said.
“It’s not what they expect and it’s not what we expect.
“That intensity to defend and provide second and third efforts wasn’t there.”
At half-time the home side were down by 28 points, however it had manufactured enough forays forward but lacked polish going into attack.
North Ballarat addressed the problem over the main break and reaped the rewards for the remainder of the match.
Playing with aggression and a willingness to go through the corridor and link up with fast hands which culminated in a six-goal third quarter.
And while the Roosters conceded seven goals itself, the scoring power provides promise.
“In the first half we still brought the ball into the corridor but the reality is we turned the ball over. Our kicks went straight to them and that’s how they got a lot of their goals.
“It wasn’t always just the kick, it was the decision.
“I told the boys, be realistic, if you’re not a great kick, don’t try and pull something out of your trick bag.
“It’s that one kick that we do turnover that’s been our downfall. (But) you need to take those risks to get the opportunities.
“When you hit your kicks in the corridor … you play some good footy.”
The next step for North Ballarat is attending to its leaky defensive structures. Northern Blues were swift on the transition and found easy avenues to goal all too often.
And as the Roosters slumped to its eleventh loss of the season, the fact it has conceded at least 90 points in all 11 losses highlights the need to improve in that area.
“We still want to play an attacking style of footy. But over the last five or six weeks we’re trying to tighten a few things up in regards to our defense.”
Oliver Tate played his best game for the season while Luke Kiel again featured among the Roosters’ best against a Blues outfit that boasted 14 AFL listed players.
James Keeble’s switch into attack proved successful and Tony Lockyer was resolute in defense.
Rooster’s defender Mitch Rodd suffered a severe ankle injury in Saturday’s clash.
Rodd, who left the field a fortnight ago with a heavy knock to the rib cage, was again in the firing line leaving the ground in the first half.
He will go for scans during the week but was cleared of any breaks. The club expects him to miss multiple weeks.