AMERICAN AFL rookie Eric Wallace won the admiration of Tiger fans in Werribee yesterday.
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Playing in just his third home-and-away game, Wallace thrilled supporters with his pace, endurance and impressive leap while in action for North Ballarat Roosters' development team.
There was some mutual respect in the crowd Werribee, like North Ballarat, is aligned with North Melbourne but once this Kangaroo pulled on the black-and-white, he was definite opposition.
And Werribee fans still applauded his efforts.
Wallace, standing 196 centimetres tall, crashed through packs with those trying to stop him just bouncing off him as he went.
While he is still finding his way on the ground and fine-tuning skills, the resounding opinion of Tiger fans was that he had talent.
Roosters coach Gerard FitzGerald said Wallace was highly-regarded by the Roosters on and off the field.
"He's training really hard and he's learning the game all the time," FitzGerald said.
"He's good for the team and the development players love playing with him he's a great teammate.
"He's got work to do in what we call game-sense and that will come with a lot of training. It takes time."
The 24-year-old had a delayed start to the season after minor knee surgery and made his Roosters debut in the AFL Victoria Development League a fortnight ago against Northern Blues.
He was a key figure about the Roosters rooms, when sidelined, studying the game and offering encouragement.
*North Ballarat Roosters also had a chance to impress our nation's leader yesterday with Prime Minister Julia Gillard looking on.
The Prime Minister is a number-one ticket holder at Werribee and called in to watch the game amid duties about the region.
Her Lalor office is deep in Tigers' heartland.
Ms Gillard enjoyed a little banter with her minister and Ballarat MP Catherine King on micro-blogging site twitter with Ms Gillard personally tweeting "Excited to see my @WerribeeFC Tigers take on the @NB_Roosters!".
Ms King fired back: "all bets are off GO ROOSTERS!!"