Mitch Wilkins' performance in the VFL on Saturday was ‘his best game since coming to the club’, according to North development coach Josh Drummond.

Despite the Roosters going down to Box Hill by 23 points, Wilkins collected 23 possessions.

“He was just about our best player on the day,” Drummond told NMFC.com.au.  

“He’s been working hard ever since he started playing just on the defensive side of his game. It’s a big step up from what he’s been doing in the past and he’s still got some maturing to do as he puts the pounds on.

“He showed some real intent around the contest.”

Brad McKenzie also bounced back from a quiet spell, influential in the middle with 22 disposals.

“He’s been a little bit quiet over the last couple of weeks but he bounced back well. He had the ball 22 times and he doesn’t need to have it that much to have an influence on the game.

“In the last quarter he had it four or five times and every time he touched it we kicked a goal.

“He marked the ball really well, which is something he had been working on.”

Cam Delaney continued his encouraging road back from injury, with his game-time increasing as expected.

“He played a full game so he was running out the game strongly. He got through the game really well.

“The main thing when you get back from injury is just getting that continuity back. Early on he struggled a little bit to read the flight of the ball on a windy day.

“As the game went on he got better and better.”

Returning from a spell on the sidelines with an ankle issue, Taylor Garner (15 disposals) was eased in.

“Garner played about 60 minutes for the afternoon. We played him a bit deeper as a forward just to help him not blow up too much. He hasn’t done much at all for the last month,” Drummond added.

“He was really impressive. He struggled early in the year learning his role but given a month out he was really good. The leading patterns were good and he’s got great aggression in his attack on the ball.”

Ben Mabon is working on adding another dimension to his game, aiming to offer more at ground level.

“With Mabes he’s generally outsized compared to the opposition’s number one ruckman so he’s been working on his follow-up efforts and having a real influence around the ground.

“He did it at times really well. It’s still a work in progress, getting him into the habit of following up and really helping out at ground level.”

After missing last week due to illness, Liam Anthony collected more than 30 possessions.

“His preparation hasn’t been great over the last few weeks. He’s been the sub, then he was a travelling emergency and then last week when he was good to go for a full game he was ill.

“He had 30-plus possessions and was good for us. He’ll gain a lot of match fitness, after the game you could tell he was a little underdone.”

Luke Delaney continued his great form as a strong pillar down back, while Max Warren’s defensive effort was singled out by Drummond.

“Maxy’s barely been beaten in a one-on-one all year. He’s been one of our most consistent players.”

Ben Jacobs continued his emergence as an inside midfielder, with the former Power played praised for his ability to ‘understands exactly what’s required’.

Cam Richardson collected 17 disposals playing mainly in the forward half.

In the North Ballarat reserves, American recruit Eric Wallace continued his rapid rate of improvement.

“Every time he’s out on the field or the training track he shows a little more than he did last time which is a great sign.

“All the coaches and players are extremely impressed at the way he goes about it and the work he puts in. He’s starting to learn the marking contests and how to work off his opponent.”

North Ballarat 0.2.2, 5.2.32, 5.5.35, 14.7.91
Box Hill 4.4.28, 5.4.34, 13.8.86, 17.12.114

Goals
North Ballarat: Clifton 3, George 2, Keeble 2, Cook 2, Richardson 1, C Delaney 1, Darmody 1, Anthony 1, Tate 1
Box Hill: Wanganeen 3, Langford 2, Savage 2, Wood 2, Northe 2, Lowden 1, Lock 1, Gordon 1, Lawlor 1, Ellis 1, Spangher 1

Best
North Ballarat: George, Anthony, Clifton, Austin, L Delaney, Tate
Box Hill: Savage, Ceglar, Wanganeen, Spangher, Langford, Mirra