North bounces back into six, more twists and turns expected

NORTH Ballarat coach Clint Proctor is happy for the Roosters to control their own destiny over the final three rounds of BFNL football, as they look to sew up a finals berth.

The Roosters jumped back into sixth spot with a convincing 118-point win over bottom-placed Lake Wendouree at C.E. Brown Reserve last Saturday, highlighted by five-goal hauls from Ned Nash, Jaylon Thorpe and Jackson McInerney.

North Ballarat was rarely troubled, leading by 30 points at quarter-time and 59 at the main break, before putting the Lakers to the sword with an 11-goal-to-two third term.

Pressure shot: North Ballarat’s Isaac Carey snaps for goal during the opening term of last Saturday’s match against Lake Wendouree at C.E. Brown Reserve. Photos: KIERAN ILES

In an absorbing and seemingly ever-fluctuating battle for two finals vacancies involving four teams, the Roosters were given a bit of a leg up courtesy of Sunbury’s come-from-behind 13-point win over Sebastopol (the Burra led by 17 points at three-quarter-time) and Ballarat’s loss to premiership contender East Point.

If the Roosters are to hold their ground in the six, a win over Redan this weekend and Sebastopol the following week are musts.

Proctor wouldn’t have it any other way, saying it was all up to his players.

“It seems to be evening up now … Melton, Sunbury, Sebas, us, Bacchus Marsh,” he said.

Declyn Mcguigan slips a goal past Lake Wendouree’s Logan Clark in last Saturday’s round 15 clash.

“It seems like there’s a bit of an even playing field now.

“It’s going to be a good run home.

“We’ve just got to keep finding some wins and take care of things our end if we can.”

Off the back of two wins from their last three games, including the scalp of third-placed Sunbury, Proctor can sense the Roosters are gaining some timely momentum.

“We’ve been a little bit inconsistent in terms of wins, but our form has definitely been much better,” he said.

“We played well (the previous week against Melton) and just missed out on the win, and the week before against Sunbury was great.

Lake Wendouree’s Bailey Ryan looks to get boot to ball under pressure from North Ballarat’s Isaac Carey.

“It’s nice to get some momentum, we’ve just got to find a way to keep it up.”

A big win over the struggling Lakers was just what the doctor ordered for North Ballarat, with Proctor rapt with his side’s pressure and presence around the football.

“The boys were really good in the contest; the pressure was good, and our third quarter was particularly good,” he said.

“It was nice to see the forwards connect and to get some reward for effort.

“It has been difficult for them to score over the last month with the weather and the conditions and up against some good defensive teams.”

Tom Floyd sends Lake Wendouree into attack during the second quarter.

In terms of better performances, inside mid Isaac Carey was brilliant for the Roosters, Tom Phillips accumulated plenty of the football, while Olie Huf won plaudits for a shutdown role.

Elsewhere, Bacchus Marsh held its ground in fifth spot with a gutsy four-point victory over Melton at Maddingley Park, while second-placed East Point continued to sharpen its game in preparation for a big finals campaign, producing a 43-point win over Ballarat.

Jacob Brown booted six goals for the Kangaroos, while Jordan Johnston and Mickitja Rotumah-Onus ran amok in the midfield.

BATTLE FOR FIFTH AND SIXTH

5. Bacchus Marsh 7-8: v Ballarat (away); v Sunbury (home); v Sebastopol (away).

6. North Ballarat 6-8-1: v Redan (home); v Sebastopol (home); v Darley (away).

7. Sebastopol 6-9: v Darley (away); v North Ballarat (home); v Bacchus Marsh (home).

8. Ballarat 5.9-1: v Bacchus Marsh (home); v Melton (away); v Redan (home).

Round 15 recap:

Sebastopol 13.6 (84) lost to Sunbury 15.7 (97); Redan 11.5 (71) lost to Darley 17.15 (117); Bacchus Marsh 10. 14 (74) defeated Melton 10.10 (70); Lake Wendouree 7.7 (49) lost to North Ballarat 26.11 (167); East Point 17.9 (111) defeated Ballarat 10.8 (68).