Match result: North Ballarat 8.14.62 defeated by Geelong 12.15.87
Venue: Simonds Stadium
Conditions: Sunny, 20 degrees

In action:
- Liam Anthony (33 disposals, 7 tackles, 1 goal)
- Trent Dumont (21 disposals, 12 tackles, 1 goal)
- Ben Jacobs (33 disposals)
- Andrew Swallow (23 disposals, 5 tackles)
- Eric Wallace (36 hit-outs, 7 disposals, 1 goal)
- Max Warren (21 disposals)
- Mitch Wilkins (22 disposals, 1 goal)

NMFC.com.au’s best: Ben Jacobs, Liam Anthony

What the coach said
“As a coach you look for things like effort – that’s an enormous pre-requisite for players to bring with them – and I was really pleased with the boys having a really good go at it.”

Gerald FitzGerald post-match to the Ballarat Courier

Key match-up
1. Max Warren v Steven Motlop

Story of the game
While the return of Andrew Swallow dominated discussion at Simonds Stadium, North Ballarat entered the rooms at half-time leading by 10 points. In its quest for victory number one for 2014, the Roosters had kicked four unanswered goals in the second quarter.

However Geelong came out with four consecutive goals of its own in the third quarter to steal a break on its opponent. The margin was only six points the Cats’ way deep in the last quarter, but they kicked the last three goals of the afternoon to finish victors by 25 points.

Points of interest
1. Andrew Swallow played his first game of football in exactly nine months in his return from an achilles injury. Playing approximately 50 per cent game time, the North Melbourne captain finished with 23 disposals and five tackles in a promising outing.

“He ticked all the boxes we wanted to tick today,” Development Manager Ben Dyer said after the game.

“He played the number of minutes we were looking to get into him, and he had a run around and had no problems, and he got enough of the ball.”

Speaking to the Ballarat Courier, Roosters’ coach FitzGerald indicated he was also keen to have the midfielder back next week if a return to the Kangaroos’ side didn’t eventuate.

“It depends on what happens at their end, whether they call him up and on how he pulls up. We’re happy to play a role in his return, he’s a terrific captain and good leader.”

2. In his role as a small defender for North Ballarat, Max Warren wouldn’t have played on many forwards with the talent of Steven Motlop. However, that was his task on Sunday and he acquitted himself well.

“Maxy had Motlop for the majority of the game and he was very good one on one against him. It’s a real feather in his cap given how dangerous Motlop can be.

“It’s great for his education to play on such an elusive type of player.” – Ben Dyer

3. After a tough weekend of travel for Ben Jacobs, he responded well with 33 possessions for the Roosters.

The travelling emergency for the senior side against Fremantle, Jacobs caught the red-eye flight back to Melbourne. A little more than 24 hours later, the left-footer was in Geelong preparing to stake his claim for a North recall.

“He played off a wing for three quarters. Then he went inside for the last and significantly improved the Roosters’ clearances when the team needed it. You couldn’t question his effort today.” – Ben Dyer

Most likely call-up: Ben Jacobs
Next week: Sandringham – Eureka Stadium, May 4 at 2:00pm