North Ballarat Roosters have ended their most difficult season in VFL competition with a 55-point loss to Sandringham to finish bottom of the ladder.
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The Roosters were able to put uncertainty of the club’s future aside, coming out with a competitive opening quarter at Mars Stadium on Saturday.
But a five-minute lapse resulting in three late goals from the St Kilda-aligned VFL side put the Roosters’ back by 30 points at the first break.
The Roosters’ potential, which has come out in glimpses all season, emerged in the second quarter when the home team held Sandringham goalless and cut down the lead.
But the players could not capitalise where it counted most, the scoreboard.
While the Roosters did get within two kicks early in the third term, the Zebras stepped up to take control of the game, kicking nine goals to three in the second half.
Youngster Coby Perry suffered a corked thigh and did not return to the ground for the Roosters after three-quarter time.
North Ballarat coach Marc Greig said while it had been a disappointing result, he was pleased with the team’s effort in the opening half.
But the players’ downfall had been due to a lack of concentration and class.
“We came out in the second quarter and had a super quarter,” Greig said.
“But for the amount of ball we had – 100 possessions and six or seven more inside 50s – we just made bad decisions.”
Greig said poor kicking and handballs while running into an open goal had cost the team the opportunity to bring the scores level at half-time.
“We do so much right but it is that one decision in the front half of the ground that has hurt us all year, because then that turnover leads to an opposition goal,” Greig said.
He also noted the players were not using enough hit-up leads, instead choosing to kick the ball long when the Roosters did not have a tall player to take a pack mark in the forward line.
“It’s just some bad decisions with some of the boys not understanding the team we’ve got – but that’s just youth and inexperience,” Greig said.
But he said there were still positives to take out of the game, including impressive ball movement, especially from the backline.
Greig was also pleased with the leadership shown from the senior players in the final rounds of the season.
He said Matt Austin had played his role well on the wing, holding space and helping defend, while also moving the ball forward.
While James Keeble continued what has been an impressive end to the year, marking the ball strongly and kicking three of the Roosters’ six goals against the Zebras.
The Roosters finish the season with just the one win to take the VFL wooden spoon over Coburg.
Roosters applauded after game for resilience an strength
Family, friends and coaches lightened a somber mood in the North Ballarat rooms after the team’s final VFL game on Saturday afternoon, with messages of support and applause for the players.
Roosters coach Marc Greig said he was proud of how far the young and injury-stricken group had come since the round one annihilation to Richmond, especially with a cloud of uncertainty hanging over the club’s future all season.
“We’ve always spoken about controlling what we can control,” Greig said.
“Whether we are around or not around, we’re optimistic, but there is nothing we can say or do to change what is going to happen.”
Greig told the young players at the club they were unlikely to ever experience such a season in their football careers again.
He commended the group for its resilience and strength, and said it was a credit to the players to turn up with the right attitude every week.
“I reckon they’ve done a pretty good job and stayed invested in what the coaches have tried to do,” Greig said.
“They’ve listened to what we’ve asked and stuck at it.”