Eager Roosters ready for stiff Swans test

NORTH Ballarat coach Clint Proctor is confident the club’s list depth has improved, leaving the Roosters better placed heading into their season opener against Ballarat at Mars Stadium this Saturday compared to the same time last year.

But he has been around footy long enough to understand that there are plenty of coaches around the BFNL entitled to make similar claims

The Roosters, who missed the finals last season by half a game in heartbreaking circumstances, beaten by three points by eventual premiers Darley in round 18, worked diligently over the off-season to shore up their key position stocks.

An exciting and targeted North Ballarat recruiting haul delivered the return of former Collingwood VFL captain Sam Glover and key forward Jye Lockett, and the inclusion of 200cm ex-SANFL ruckman David Brinker-Ritchie.

In a further boost, they will benefit from full-time access to former AFL top 10 pick Denver Grainger-Barras, who is no longer affiliated with Carlton’s VFL team.

Those acquisitions, coupled with the anticipated development of some of the Roosters’ brightest young prospects, have Proctor optimistic his side is capable of taking a big leap forward in 2026.

“I am really comfortable with the spine we’ve got – we’ve got some really good keys this year, which we didn’t have last year,” he said.

“Honestly, it’s just about the continual improvement from our young boys. Hopefully we get some development from Dom Penny, Wilbur Shea and Taj Bowman, kids who have been in the Rebels system.

“If we can get that development, I’m sure we’ll challenge some teams.”

After an early injury crisis last season, there was a sense the Roosters were playing catch-up from the very beginning.

“We were a little behind the eight-ball with regards to list management and the injuries we carried into the year, but this year we have been a bit more strategic and tried to identify those gaps earlier in the piece,” he said.

“I feel like our list is in a better shape, but at the same time, unavailability and injuries are always going to be a factor in football.

“It will be no different this weekend; we’ll have guys who are still coming back from injury that won’t quite get there, but we know they won’t be far away.”

Proctor hailed the return of former Roosters junior Glover, after 80 VFL games with the Magpies, as having set the standard off and on the field at North Ballarat.

“His leadership is really valuable at training and he’s been managing his body,” he said.

“He’s coming off an operation on his hip and a fairly long layoff, but he’s the ultimate professional.

“We are very excited to have him this weekend and he will be a great pick up for us.”

 

The Roosters are hopeful of a debut from North Melbourne VFL-listed ruckman Brinker-Ritchie, who has been battling a knee complaint.

Their chances against the Swans look likely to be bolstered by the availability of Port Melbourne-listed trio Riley Polkinghorne, James Sparkman and James Van Es.

On the other side of the ledger, club leader Simon McCartin, who is battling a calf injury, won’t appear until round three, the same for recruit Seb Collins, who has landed at Mars Stadium via Bendigo league club Sandhurst.

They will need as may hands on deck as possible following an off-season in which Ballarat turned plenty of heads, signing former AFL stars Alex Keath and Brad Crouch, and adding more depth in the shape of former SANFL forward Tyson Richard, Thomas Simpson (Belconnen) and Patrick Graham (Skipton).

Proctor is just one of nine rival coaches who has been watching on with great interest at the happenings over at Alfredton

“They look like one of the favourites now to push for a top three spot,” was Proctor’s candid assessment of the Swans.

“Credit to Ash (coach Ash Baker) and the guys, they have a great program over there.

“They have some really great young players; I like (Paddy) Simpson and (Wyatt) Squires and (Fraser) Perkins and some of the kids coming through.

“But they’re not kids anymore, they’re quite mature in the way they play their footy.

“I’m sure they are going to be one of the top teams this year to really get after.

“With Alex Keath and Brad Crouch and (Paddy) Simpson, they look like they are going to be formidable and really tough to beat.

“Obviously they finished in the finals ahead of us, so they’re one we are chasing and we’ll have a good crack on Saturday.”

The two clubs played out a draw in round one last season.”

Given how their 2025 season unfolded, with the Roosters getting away to a 0-4-1 start before working their way back into finals contention, Proctor said early wins were a priority of the highest order.

“It was a great effort to put ourselves in a position to potentially take sixth spot, but we were always chasing and ran out of a bit gas in the end through the body of work we had to put in during the winter,” he said.

“We’ve got four of our first five games at home, which is pleasing.

“Albeit, it’s a tough draw … Ballarat, East Point, Melton, Sunbury … every team a finalist.

“But we’re hoping to play a brand of footy that can stack up and gives us a chance to pinch a couple.”