New coach Brendan McCartney is impressed with the way his young list at North Ballarat has taken on the early challenges he has thrown at them.
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He said there had been a real desire to learn in the first phase of the Roosters' pre-season.
"There was real intensity and energy."
McCartney said he had quickly moved into a football mode in the opening six weeks, with match drills a focus.
McCartney, who coached the Western Bulldogs in the AFL for three years from 2012 and spent two decades in various roles at AFL clubs, is in the first season of a three-year deal with North Ballarat in the Ballarat Football League.
McCartney said he did not have any specific recruiting plans.
He said others were looking after that aspect of the club's football department.
McCartney said while he expected a few recruits might "bob up", he was more than than happy to work the talent he had and build from there.
He said there was a strong core of experience to assist with the development of younger players.
McCartney said teaching was a key component of the pre-season - ensuring players and his assistant coaches understood his methods and football philosophies, and setting standards.
He is looking to as quickly as possible to instill a brand of football which not only takes North Ballarat into finals, but that flourishes and stands up to the pressures of finals.
North Ballarat will resume pre-season on Wednesday, January 27.
McCartney said some solid sessions in the lead up to the Christmas-New Year break had set the tone for what was ahead for the Roosters.
He said the plan was to put in a big five-week block with sessions three nights a week.
While success on the football field is a high priority, McCartney reinforced his holistic role with the Roosters across all levels of male and female football and netball programs.
"It's not just about premerships. It's about development and being one club."
McCartney said at the time of appointment in October that he wanted to promote the game in Ballarat.
He said could not wait to get his teeth into the job and do all he could not only for the club, but for the Ballarat football and sporting community as a whole.
MCartney said could not wait to meet a new group of young people and play a role in their development as athletes and people.
North Ballarat missed finals in the 2019 BFL season.