Match: North Ballarat v Footscray
Result: North Ballarat 2.10.22 to Footscray 6.15.51
Venue: Simonds Stadium
Weather: Windy and rain in second half
In action:
Eric Wallace (6 disposals, 21 hit-outs, tackles)
Trent Dumont (12 disposals, 8 tackles)
Mitch Wilkins (12 disposals, 4 tackles, 1 goal)
Key match-ups
1. Wallace v Tom Campbell/Ayce Cordy
2. Dumont v Lin Long
Story of the game
Missed opportunities early from the Roosters proved costly, as they peppered the goals in the opening term.
Boasting a strong contingent of AFL-listed players, Footscray also had its issues in front of the big sticks, booting 2.9 in the first half to lead by five points.
The premiership quarter proved decisive, as they kicked three goals to North Ballarat’s five behinds.
The Roosters looked for a spark in the final term, but it didn’t come, their opponents finding far too much uncontested ball to win by 29 points.
"Footscray were pretty solid all day and we were up against it, but we were still in the game until the last quarter when they kicked away.
"Obviously it was disappointing that it broke the six game winning streak." – Senior Development Coach Gavin Brown
What the coach said
"I know Mapes (Chris Maple – Footscray coach) was pretty disappointed when we beat them in round five. He was very prepared for this.
"They (the Bulldogs) were very, very organised and very, very committed – that's how you want to play your footy." – Gerard Fitzgerald to The Courier
Points of interest
1. 2013 draftee Trent Dumont has been one of the standouts at VFL level in recent weeks, and his form hasn’t gone unnoticed by opposition sides.
In the absence of Liam Anthony (travelling emergency) and Ben Jacobs (late inclusion), Dumont copped plenty of attention.
"Trent was tagged pretty heavily by Lin Jong who went everywhere with him; stoppages, around the ground, he made life really tough for him.
"That was something new for Trent and given that LA wasn’t there and Ben wasn’t there, then he was the next one to be tagged.
"It was an invaluable experience. It’s fantastic to have an AFL player tag you. He would have learnt a hell of a lot.
"He didn’t get a lot of the footy, but he didn’t stop trying to his credit. He kept working through it pretty hard." – Gavin Brown
2. With some key players missing in the on-ball brigade, Mitch Wilkins was handed a new challenge.
Used predominantly through half-back and on a wing this year, he enjoyed an opportunity to move through the centre.
"He played a little bit inside during the third quarter for about 10 minutes so it was good to introduce him to the middle.
"It was a good learning experience for him. Hopefully going forward we’ll get a little bit more time through the midfield into him.
"There was a little bit of good stuff there, but perhaps a bit inconsistent." – Gavin Brown
3. Another huge task confronted Eric Wallace against Bulldogs Ayce Cordy and Tom Campbell.
"He probably had a day where he was taught some valuable lessons.
"Cordy and Campbell double-teamed him a little bit and beat him in the ruck and around the ground.
“He did some nice things but it was a little bit infrequent, so he’ll go through the tape and get better no doubt." – Gavin Brown
Most likely call-up: Trent Dumont
Next week: Werribee – Avalon Airport Oval, Saturday 1pm
