With the club’s VFL affiliates both enjoying a bye this weekend, it’s an opportune time to look at the performance of North’s players at Werribee and North Ballarat over the middle part of 2014.

NMFC.com.au looks at the Roosters, who have recovered from a 0-4 start to sit a game clear inside the eight at the bye.

The following shows the performance of the Roos who took part in North Ballarat’s victory last weekend.

North Ballarat (6th, 8 wins, 6 losses)

- Brad McKenzie
Round 9 v Box Hill: 11 disposals, 4 tackles (limited game time)
Round 10 v Casey: 22 disposals, 5 marks, 2 goals
Round 13 v Werribee: 26 disposals, 8 tackles
Round 15 v Bendigo: 25 disposals, 7 marks, 1 goal

After playing the first seven games of 2014 for North Melbourne, McKenzie has been on the fringes of the side. It’s meant more appearances for the Roosters, and the left footer has consistently been able to find the ball at VFL level.

Spending time in the middle has been a slight departure from his normal outside role but McKenzie has still acquitted himself well. The eight tackles against Werribee in Round 13 was a good indication of what the South Australian could be capable of.

- Liam Anthony
Round 11 v Richmond: 32 disposals, 6 marks, 6 tackles
Round 14 v Northern Blues: 37 disposals, 8 marks, 4 tackles
Round 15 v Bendigo: 30 disposals, 7 tackles, 1 goal

Anthony is consistently met with a hard tag in every VFL appearance he has made this season. Considering it’s a rarity when the midfielder drops under the 30 possession mark, his four AFL games were a deserved reward for good form.

- Mitch Wilkins
Round 9 v Box Hill: 10 disposals, 6 tackles
Round 10 v Casey: 7 disposals, 5 tackles
Round 11 v Richmond: 13 disposals, 2 marks, 2 tackles
Round 12 v Footscray: 13 disposals, 4 tackles
Round 13 v Werribee: 5 disposals, 2 goals
Round 14 v Northern Blues: 10 disposals, 2 goals
Round 15 v Bendigo: 10 disposals, 2 goals

Playing in a variety of positions, the last three weeks have seen Wilkins potentially find his niche as a forward.

Consistently praised by coaches for his ability to find the ball, Wilkins has put it to good use with six goals in three matches. It could be his position moving forward.

- Eric Wallace
Round 9 v Box Hill: 3 disposals, 54 hit-outs, 4 tackles
Round 10 v Casey: 9 disposals, 28 hit-outs, 4 tackles
Round 11 v Richmond: 4 disposals, 39 hit-outs, 4 tackles
Round 12 v Footscray: 6 disposals, 26 hit-outs, 2 tackles
Round 13 v Werribee: 8 disposals, 40 hit-outs, 8 tackles
Round 14 v Northern Blues: 10 disposals, 23 hit-outs, 1 goal
Round 15 v Bendigo: 6 disposals, 47 hit-outs

In his second year of football, Wallace has continued his week-by-week growth. As the stats show, his hit-out numbers have been consistently high, with his tackling also a feature.

While his work around the ground is still improving, by and large it’s been an impressive season so far from the 197cm American.

- Max Warren
Round 9 v Box Hill: 17 disposals, 6 tackles
Round 10 v Casey: 7 disposals, 2 tackles
Round 11 v Richmond: 13 disposals, 3 marks, 3 tackles
Round 13 v Werribee: 18 disposals
Round 14 v Northern Blues: 20 disposals, 1 goal
Round 15 v Bendigo: 9 disposals, 4 marks, 6 tackles

Warren has been the lynchpin of the Roosters’ defence for the season. Perhaps it was no coincidence that the game he missed for his North Melbourne debut saw North Ballarat lose by 29 points to Footscray.

Against the Northern Blues in Round 14, Warren tagged Jeff Garlett over the entire ground, a departure from his normal defensive 50 tasks. It was his best performance of the season, not allowing the dangerous Garlett to influence the game at all.

- Aaron Mullett
Round 13 v Werribee: 24 disposals, 4 tackles
Round 15 v Bendigo: 29 disposals, 7 marks, 2 goals

Mullett’s recent omission from the AFL side saw him make his first appearances for the Roosters since 2012.

With an average of 26.5 disposals in his two games, the left footer had no trouble finding the ball and often looked a class above in doing so. If his form continues, his time in the VFL will likely be short-lived.

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While Trent Dumont didn’t play in the most recent outing, his form has been a highlight of North Ballarat’s play this season. The first year player has consistently notched high disposal counts, settling into life at Arden Street well.

Currently in the middle of a heavy training phase, Dumont will return ready to resume after the bye.

Ben Jacobs also used a string of best on ground performances for the Roosters to earn a senior spot. The left footer had five games of 30+ disposals before playing the last four games for North Melbourne.