With the club’s VFL affiliates both enjoying a bye this weekend, it is an opportune time to look at the performance of North’s players at North Ballarat and Werribee.

[RELATED: Next in line: Werribee]

Today NMFC.com.au looks at North Ballarat, which sits just outside the eight after winning its last three games.

The following shows the performance of the Roos who were not in the side which travelled to Geelong.

North Ballarat Roosters (9th, 3 wins, 4 losses)

Players with AFL appearances in 2014

- Brad McKenzie
Round 7 v Footscray: 24 disposals, 7 marks, 5 tackles, 1 goal
Round 8 v Bendigo: 21 disposals, 11 marks, 3 tackles, 1 goal

After playing the first seven senior games of the year, McKenzie has spent the last two weeks playing at the Roosters.

While his disposal count has been solid, according to the development coaches, it’s his defensive positioning that McKenzie is working extremely hard on. Once this is rectified, it’s likely only a matter of time before his lethal left-foot finds its way back into the AFL.

- Ben Jacobs
Round 1 v Collingwood: 35 disposals, 9 marks, 5 tackles, 1 goal
Round 4 v Geelong: 39 disposals, 7 marks, 5 tackles
Round 5 v Footscray: 30 disposals, 7 marks, 6 tackles
Round 8 v Bendigo: 42 disposals, 10 marks, 6 tackles, 4 goals

In amongst his three senior appearances as a substitute, Jacobs has played four outstanding games for North Ballarat.

Averaging an astounding 36.5 disposals a game for the Roosters, Jacobs has clearly reaped the rewards of his first full pre-season and is banging down the door for a recall to the North side.

No AFL appearances

- Liam Anthony
Round 1 v Collingwood: 29 disposals, 4 marks, 7 tackles, 1 goal
Round 2 v Essendon: 24 disposals, 4 marks, 6 tackles, 1 goal
Round 3 v Sandringham: 24 disposals, 7 marks, 6 tackles
Round 4 v Geelong: 33 disposals, 7 marks, 9 tackles
Round 5 v Footscray: 27 disposals, 6 marks, 6 tackles, 1 goal
Round 7 v Frankston: 30 disposals, 5 marks, 13 tackles, 1 goal
Round 8 v Bendigo: 21 disposals, 7 marks, 5 tackles, 2 goals

A consistent presence in the Roosters’ side, the defensive aspects of Anthony’s game have markedly improved in 2014.

With more than 50 tackles in his seven games, the midfielder is becoming a well-rounded player.

- Trent Dumont
Round 1 v Collingwood: 23 disposals, 7 marks, 3 tackles
Round 2 v Essendon: 25 disposals, 5 marks, 8 tackles
Round 3 v Sandringham: 26 disposals, 7 marks, 9 tackles
Round 4 v Geelong: 16 disposals, 5 marks, 10 tackles, 1 goal
Round 5 v Footscray: 21 disposals, 5 marks, 11 tackles, 1 goal
Round 7 v Frankston: 23 disposals, 3 marks, 8 tackles
Round 8 v Bendigo: 26 disposals, 7 marks, 1 goal

In his first year at Arden Street, Dumont has taken to VFL football remarkably well. Six of his seven games have reaped a possession count of more than 20, while a five-game stretch saw a mammoth 46 tackles laid.

Dumont has spent more time forward in the last fortnight, furthering his education and adding another dimension to his game.

- Mitch Wilkins
Round 1 v Collingwood: 9 disposals, 4 marks, 5 tackles
Round 3 v Sandringham: 16 disposals, 3 marks, 1 tackle, 1 goal
Round 4 v Geelong: 21 disposals, 4 marks, 3 tackles, 1 goal
Round 5 v Footscray: 11 disposals, 2 marks, 3 tackles
Round 7 v Frankston: 9 disposals, 1 mark, 1 tackle

Wilkins has missed two of the seven games through illness and then injury, stymying his attempts to progress in his second season at Arden Street.

Spending time on half back and also the wing, Wilkins has impressed the development coaches with his work off the ball; often efforts which don’t show up in the stat sheet.

- Eric Wallace
Round 1 v Collingwood: 6 disposals, 8 tackles, 21 hit-outs
Round 2 v Essendon: 9 disposals, 5 tackles, 30 hit-outs
Round 3 v Sandringham: 8 disposals, 2 tackles, 29 hit-outs
Round 4 v Geelong: 8 disposals, 3 tackles, 38 hit-outs, 1 goal
Round 5 v Footscray: 7 disposals, 3 tackles, 34 hit-outs, 1 goal
Round 7 v Frankston: 9 disposals, 5 tackles, 33 hit-outs
Round 8 v Bendigo: 10 disposals, 3 tackles, 45 hit-outs, 1 goal

Wallace’s introduction to senior VFL football this season has been a success. Thrust into the mantle of number one ruck for the Roosters, he has been able to run out games well.

Able to steadily increase his hit-out numbers, Wallace has also begun to drift forward and impact the scoreboard. He has kicked a goal in three of the last four weeks.

- Max Warren
Round 1 v Collingwood: 30 disposals, 12 marks, 2 tackles
Round 2 v Essendon: 21 disposals, 3 marks, 2 tackles
Round 3 v Sandringham: 13 disposals, 3 marks
Round 4 v Geelong: 22 disposals, 8 marks, 3 tackles
Round 5 v Footscray: 16 disposals, 10 marks
Round 7 v Frankston: 22 disposals, 8 marks
Round 8 v Bendigo: 23 disposals, 4 marks

Warren has arguably become North Ballarat’s most important defender. Following the victory over Bendigo, development manager Ben Dyer stated the aim was to put him on the opposition’s most dangerous forward every week.

It’s a reflection of the increased confidence placed in Warren, and he has replicated the faith with a string of solid performances.