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From Ballarat Courier
Reported by Melanie Whelan
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WHEN North Ballarat coach Gerard FitzGerald called for his team to be at its most ferocious, his Roosters answered.
They responded in a seven-goal final term to emphatically close off a 44-point upset against Northern Bullants at Visy Park.

The Carlton-aligned Bullants became the Selkirk Roosters’ second Victorian Football League top-three scalp in three rounds – with only undefeated Port Melbourne escaping their grasp.

FitzGerald was proud of his team’s resolve to learn from a heavy loss to Port Melbourne and take on the Bullants.

“I’m pleased with our strength and commitment to bounce back,” FitzGerald said.

“The Bullants are now eight (wins) and three (losses) which means really only Williamstown and Port Melbourne are clear at the top.

“There is a real pressure with a real even battle for the rest of the top eight, so we’re in a must-win next week against Sandringham...you’ve only got to be a little off your game to be caught out in this competition.”

North Ballarat stamped its intentions in a strong opening term – just like it had against Williamstown and Port Melbourne the past two rounds.

But FitzGerald was particularly pleased with the intensity in how his players finished off, something the Roosters had focused intently on improving.

The persistent Bullants were never far behind and constantly clawed their way back in the game.

They opened the second quarter with three unanswered goals to snatch the lead and again, booted their way back within one goal late in the third term.

Bullants’ tall marking forwards Ash Arrowsmith and Ahmed Saad did most of the damage with four goals apiece.

The Roosters looked at their most dangerous with fast, direct play through the corridor putting the Bullants on the back-foot.

They had their chances to break clear in the third but FitzGerald said his players needed to learn how to “arm-wrestle” better for longer to maintain complete control.

Bullant Tyson Thomas kicked the first goal of the final term, then the Roosters took over, snaring seven of the next eight goals.

The Roosters’ multi-pronged attack sported 12 goal-kickers with North Melbourne-listed duo Matt Campbell (four goals) and Aaron Mullett (three) leading a lively charge.

Orren Stephenson obliterated the Bullants in the ruck with 52 hit-outs, more than double the Bullants’ combined tap tally.

Playmaker Myles Sewell dominated through the midfield with 33 possessions and 13 clearances.

Kangaroos-listed defender Daniel Pratt worked hard off half-back, taking over for the promoted Cam Richardson, and chalking up 27 disposals.

Key defender Matt Sharkey kept imposing Bullants’ forward Levi Casboult to one goal from eight touches and offered strong leadership through the Roosters’ back lines.

Meanwhile, Roosters premiership midfielder Nick Peters made a solid return to senior football.

Peters remains under restricted match play in a comeback from a calf injury but FitzGerald was pleased with the amount of ball Peters found in 23 possessions.