North Ballarat

Gerard Fitzgerald (not Gerald as the cover of the VFL Record has spelt it) notched up his 200th game as coach today with the Roosters win over Williamstown. He's by far my favourite VFL coach, listening to him on the ground at the breaks is well worth doing as he's just got a style of talking that makes the listener pay attention to every word. I also think that everytime I've heard him interviewed by the boys on Casey Radio he's come across as a polite and very respectful gentleman. He clearly has a passion for the VFL and represents the competition and the Roosters positively every time. It's great to see the Roosters up there, and hopefully they're able to get their coach that elusive premiership that he deserves to have.

The Roosters have recruited well in the off season with both Tristan Cartledge and Tom Roach signing on with the Roosters in recent weeks. Both are former AFL players with Tristan coming from Essendon and Tom from Richmond, where his father Michael played.

Just looking on a Richmond forum, and there's pretty strong mail that Tom Roach has signed with North Ballarat. Nothing official, but he'd be quite handy as a VFL listed player.

http://wimmera.yourguide.com.au/detail.asp?class=sport&subclass=afl&sto… Will ruck at North Ballart in 2007 if he misses out on the draft.

Just a rumour at this stage.

Just finished watching the North Ballarat v Werribee match, and though he only kicked one goal, thought Saunders was important. Even though he wasn't taking grabs early, he was bringing the ball to ground, a focal point, and the crumbers reaped the rewards. Seemed to bring others into the play, and later on in the match, pulled in a mark or two. Hope he does well next week, great to see Geelong out, and a legitimate team win the flag!

Just wondering if anybody knows if the v.f.l are having memberships this year,if so how much and were from? Good for supporters who dont follow any one team,but if you follow a team buy your clubs membership.

North Ballarat have introduced gold coin admission to all home games this season, with the proceeds going to local charities. Members were supplied with a fridge magnet listing senior games.

This is by no means an earth shattering announcement but former North Ballarat Rebel, Brad Hartigan, has signed to play with the Roosters. Reported by the Wimmera Mail-Times, Hartigan was a premiership player with Horsham in the Wimmera FL last season. His father is the Horsham chairman and I'm sure he is a cousin of Brent Hartigan at Richmond. He joins a group of three or four other players from the Rebels who have committed to the Roosters for 2006. I'll dig through some old papers to find those players names.

Orren Stephenson left the Roosters at the end of the 2005 seaon but has reconsidered following the departure of Mark Porter. The following article is from the Ballarat Courier. Orren opts for Roosters' ruck role Thursday, 12 January 2006 NORTH Ballarat has lured Redan premiership player Orren Stephenson back to Austar Arena with a golden chance to become the club's premier ruckman. Stephenson, 23, was full of enthusiasm last night at training on his return to the Roosters, having prematurely ended his Victorian Football League career at the end of last year. Stephenson walked away from North Ballarat and signed with his former Ballarat Football League club Redan, which badly needed his height. But North Ballarat's off-season player exodus, which included the departure of ruckman Mark Porter, handed Stephenson a chance to again prove himself at VFL level. He was last night excited about competing against some of the league's leading big men. North Ballarat coach Gavin Crosisca showed his faith in Stephenson, declaring him the club's "main man" for this year. Crosisca was confident the 201cm giant would develop into a power player. Stephenson, a two-time Redan premiership ruckman, managed only five senior games in his first stint with the Roosters last year. "With Mark Porter moving on, a door has really opened for Orren," Crosisca said. "We needed a strong ruckman and he's got so much room to grow and develop. "It's fantastic to have him back and hopefully he will be able to blossom into the number one role." Crosisca was just as rapt to have newly-appointed captain Shaune Moloney training. Moloney missed the entire 2005 season because he was working and holidaying overseas. Stephenson said work commitments and family reasons were behind his exit from the Roosters in October. He said it was an agonising decision to turn his back on Redan this month. Stephenson said his aim was to have an impact on the VFL. "Things changed before Christmas and I made my decision to return to North Ballarat a week or so ago," he said. "Redan has been great about it, but I do feel a bit bad because it came about so late. "I'm just looking forward to the opportunity I've got, playing with the Kangaroo boys as well." Redan spokesman Craig Jackson said his club was proud of Stephenson and was supportive of his desire to play at a higher level. The Roosters - without their AFL Kangaroo team-mates - hit the track last night for the first time this year.