The Roosters' attackers led the way, Madison Selmon nailing 37 goals at 91 per cent to beat East Point 43-41, ending the Roos' unbeaten start to the season in the process.

Coach Annie McCartin was full of praise for her side's ability to stand up and snatch top spot of their opponents.

"It was a good game. We all knew it was going to be a good game when it's one-versus-two," she told The Courier.

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"We knew that we would be in for a tough game and worked on different things during the week that we felt would benefit us against East Point.

"We felt we applied those really well. There are still things we need to work on, and you need these games...we happened to win, and we're still going to take out quite a few things that we need to work on."

The match started tense, both sides using the early minutes to get a gauge.

Selmon pushed the visitors out to an early buffer, though the Roos remained within touching distance.

"We did well in that first quarter; it was pretty even. I know we were three goals up, but it could have gone either way," McCartin said.

"The second quarter, we built a six-goal buffer. Third-quarter, we had a seven-goal buffer. Then, that last quarter our momentum or something just didn't quite happen."

Trailing 37-30 heading into the fourth term, East Point launched a comeback.

Lavinia Fox (20 goals) scored seven without missing in the final stretch to add a sense of intrigue to the game's closing stages.

It proved too little too late, however, the Roosters holding on by two goals.

"They were always going to apply the pressure in that last quarter; that was only natural," McCartin said.

"There were things going on there, and we weren't able to get back into what we were doing...but I was so proud of the girls. They stayed very calm and just focused on the game they were playing."

It was a new-look side that delivered North Ballarat victory.

Poppy Douglass' unavailability pushed Gina McCartin in the goal ring, while Keeley Smith and Emma Trigg all played extended minutes in defence.

"I was so proud of the young girls that had to come into my defence," McCartin said.

"I've been giving them a bit of experience throughout the season, but this was always going to be a tough ask playing against an experienced team. But, they did a wonderful job.

"I felt though, over the whole course of the game, it was the attack the had the most pressure applied to them.

"I never give anyone more than credit than anyone else, but they really, really had to stand up."

In the round's other games, Lake Wendouree defeated Melton South, 49-37, Sebastopol returned from Darley with a 52-36 win, Melton beat Redan by eight goals, and Ballarat coasted to a 60-31 victory against Sunbury.