North’s mature-age recruit collected 30 disposals in a bizarre game between Werribee and North Ballarat in the second-tier competition's opening round.
The old cliché ‘a game of two halves’ couldn’t have rung more true after the Roosters gave up a 47-point lead mid-way through the second term to eventually lose by 35-points.
Gibson and several of his Kangaroos’ team-mates were the catalysts in an 11-goal third quarter than turned the match on its head.
Levi Greenwood was another keen to prove his worth and with 24 possessions and two goals, he put himself back in the mix for a call-up.
Like they did so many times in 2011, Ben McKinley and Ben Warren proved a lethal combination in attack with four and two goals respectively. The latter also pulled down 11 marks in a strong showing.
Ben Speight had 23 disposals and put through two goals, while Will Sierakowski put his skills on show and gathered 21 touches.
Development coach John Lamont was pleased with the efforts of rookie Malcolm Lynch as the former Bulldog gathered 24 possessions and “broke the game up with his pace and lateral movement”.
Fellow rookie Brad Mangan was another who caught the eye with a rock-solid effort down back.
Meanwhile, versatile tall Cameron Pedersen was most effective in defence but also had spells in the ruck and up forward on his way to 19 disposals.
kangaroos.com.au will post an analysis of each of the club’s North Ballarat-aligned players in the coming days.
*North Ballarat stats not available at this time
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