Open to VFL name change

Following the announcement of the club’s new naming rights sponsor H. Troon, which will see the club known as the Troon Roosters, Buckenara said “watch this space” in regards to a complete change of club identity.

Buckenara said it would be something the club will consider and the title of “Greater Western Victoria Roosters” might be more suitable and help in changing people’s perception of the VFL side. And while he does not necessarily agree with the philosophy, the proposed new name would also better reflect the club’s mantra of providing footballers of Western Victoria an opportunity to play in the second best league in the country.

“I think we’ve got to the stage where something like the Greater Western Victoria Roosters and the pathway under that is something we could look at in the future,” Buckenara said.

“Ballarat Roosters would give it that local feel, but I think we should actually spread our wings to the whole region for a bigger catchment of interest.

“Watch this space around that. But it will probably help us – it shouldn’t – but it will help us. You can’t help what people think and memories go back a long way. And I think that’s what drives a lot the “no we don’t want to support the Roosters because that means we’re supporting North Ballarat” so hopefully people can understand that they’re two separate entities.”

The North Ballarat name is one that divides people of Ballarat following its perceived arrogance at local level throughout previous golden eras. And while the VFL team and the Ballarat Football League side are not aligned, the stigma towards the club runs thick.

Buckenara drew the comparison to Port Adelaide’s entrance into the AFL.

“When the Adelaide Crows were formed then Port got the next licence, they called themselves Port Adelaide because they were such an iconic SANFL team. But what they did was probably disenfranchise 80% of football supporters in South Australia who’d say “why would we support Port Adelaide?” and I think similar’s happened here.”