Roosters coach Gerard FitzGerald addresses the troops during last week’s match against Port Melbourne.
NORTH Ballarat Roosters coach Gerard FitzGerald says “names will not guarantee success” for a pivotal road-trip to Casey Fields tomorrow.
The addition of out-of-favour North Melbourne ruckman Todd Goldstein, confirmed yesterday, and small forward Matt Campbell will bolster the Selkirk Roosters’ line-up greatly.
But FitzGerald said it was the full team that must get the job done.
A clash with Casey marks the end of a six-week opening phase for the Roosters in the Victorian Football League.
The Roosters find themselves in unfamiliar territory at the bottom of the ladder with one win from five starts.
FitzGerald said victory tomorrow would keep the Roosters in touch with competition leaders and kick-start their next phase in a return from a bye.
The Roosters must seek to bounce back against the fourth-ranked Casey Scorpions after a second-half blow-out against powerhouse Port Melbourne last week.
“I think this week is a reminder that there’s no easy games – it’s tight games all along,” FitzGerald said.
“We can win this, then we’ve won two and we can stay around the mark.
“There is one super side in this competition, Port Melbourne, then there’s some very good sides.
“We’re back in a tough spot.”
FitzGerald said the addition Goldstein, Campbell and return of quality players captain Marc Greig (from suspension) and forward Derick Micallef (nose) put pressure on spots – and that was a good thing.
Pressure on selections helped create urgency for players to perform.
FitzGerald said players seemed determined on the training track to make amends against Casey.
The Roosters had identified areas to improve and implemented strategies to do so; now it’s time for execution.
Goldstein’s inclusion will help developing North Melbourne-listed ruck Ben Mabon, who has been shouldering the ruck load this season.
He should also add experience at the stoppages.
But FitzGerald said success at Casey Fields would come back to the basics.
“Names will not guarantee success – we need to be playing our best for longer periods and times when the opposition is playing well, we need to stay in the contest,” FitzGerald said.
Meanwhile, North Melbourne’s top 2011 draftee Tom Curran will have his first chance to impress.
Curran will play his first game for the year in the Roosters’ development team against Casey Scorpions.
The key position prospect has spent most of his time with the Kangaroos in a moon-boot for a broken foot, discovered about AFL Draft Camp time.