After a week of reflection, there will be no excuses for the North Ballarat Roosters this weekend as it takes on Casey Demons in its round two VFL clash.
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The Roosters were put to the sword last week, going down to Richmond by 188 points.
Coach Marc Greig said the main focus throughout the week had been ensuring the side enters Saturday night with a competitive mindset.
The thumping loss was brought about by poor skill execution and highlighted a clear difference in on-field talent, but Greig said there was reason to not bring intensity. He said a competitive performance was non-negotiable this week.
“On Monday we just spoke about how it was just such an unrealistic result on the weekend. I don’t care how they explain it to me – 180 points is a ridiculous margin,” Greig said.
“We just need blokes, individually, to have a look in the mirror and see how they went last week and rectify it – and effort is the simple answer really.
“Let’s throw that in the trash and move on as quick as we can.
“We just have to be competitive and to have high intensity across the ground for as long a period as we can. It’s easy to say, but for whatever reason we had guys who are normally competitive, that were noncompetitive on the weekend.
“The competitive juices would want to be seen, that’s what our response will want to look like.”
The Roosters will make upward of six changes to the side to take on Casey.
Greig said another area that had to lift was its on-field communication.
“Just basic communication out on the ground - we certainly lack that.
“We’ve just got so many youngsters. Some of the youngsters don’t talk and then there’s some boys who have played footy for a few years and still don’t talk on the ground.
Experienced duo Luke Kiel and Tony Lockyer have been named co-captains for 2017.
TEAM: B: T.Lockyer, L.Buckwell, B.Jones; HB: M.Rodd, L.Herbert, S.Lyle; C: J.McQueen, L.George, M.Austin; HF: B.Payne, H.Walters, A.Hooper; F: J.Cooke-Harrison, T.Thoolen, J. Keeble; R: N.Nott , L.Kiel, N.Rippon; Int: M.Johnston, B.Edwards, N.Weightman, L.Cassidy, K.Mellington, K.Waterbury, N.Hausler, B.Cox, B.Simpson
We just need blokes, individually, to have a look in the mirror and see how they went last week and rectify it.
- North Ballarat Roosters coach Marc Greig