If North Melbourne supporters were holding their breath, awaiting the comeback of Jesse Smith, they would have passed out a long time ago. Finally the 22 year-old is set to return to football this week, albeit in the VFL reserves.
Smith has been named in the centre for the Roosters and after a horror run of injuries this season, will need to prove his worth before being considered for senior selection by coach Darren Crocker.
After playing a few practice matches in the early part of 2009, Smith was again sidelined by recurring hamstring and ankle problems.
The former Rising Star nominee has managed just 27 games in five seasons at North, 19 of those came in 2007 when he averaged eighteen possessions and earned best on ground honours for a match winning performance against Hawthorn in the Roos' semi-final win.
Smith will line up alongside Kangaroo teammate Warren Benjamin, who continues to improve and push for a promotion to the Roosters' seniors. The draftee from Western Australia grabbed eighteen possessions and four hard ball gets in his last match.
The return of Cruize Garlett should be a handy one for the North Ballarat seniors which faces the Box Hill Hawks on Saturday afternoon.
Garlett has played his last three games in the AFL and the Roosters will have no trouble slotting the youngster straight back in after his dominant performances earlier in the season.
The Kangaroo affiliate is aiming for its tenth win in a row and plenty will rest on the shoulders of a powerful forward line which boasts the likes of Aaron Edwards, Josh Smith and Michael Wundke. The trio is set to feature prominently against an inexperienced Box Hill defence.
For Edwards it's a chance to put his hand up for North Melbourne selection, the former Liston Trophy winner hoping for some of the goal kicking exploits that saw him bag 88 goals for Frankston in 2006.
Josh Smith continues to suffer from the good form shown by his Kangaroo teammates at AFL level. Despite kicking 19 goals in 9 games for the Roosters, the 23 year-old has not played for North Melbourne since round four. After being named on the extended interchange this week, another strong game could see him right in the selection mix.
Just three weeks after being named as an emergency against Adelaide, Michael Wundke hasn't done his chances any harm with six goals in the past two matches. The former North Adelaide player booted 45 goals in the Roosters' premiership season in 2008.
The experience of Shannon Watt and Sam Power could prove valuable for a young North Ballarat side. Watt seems to have fallen out of favour with North Melbourne selectors of late, but the number 36 has shown plenty at VFL level to suggest a return before the end of the season.
Power has been named on the extended bench for the Kangaroos, 36 possessions against Collingwood just two weeks ago making him hard to ignore.
Box Hill Hawks vs. North Ballarat (seniors)
Saturday 11th July
Box Hill City Oval at 2:00 PM
North Ballarat seniors:
B: Watt Moloney Greig
HB: Feery Searl Sharkey
C: Richardson Lower Roach
HF: A. Edwards Cartledge Spolding
F: Driscoll Jo. Smith Campbell
R: Stephenson Goodes Clifton
Int: Sewell Power Garlett White Hooper* Wundke McMahon Peters A. George Chester McHugh
Box Hill Hawks vs. North Ballarat (reserves)
Saturday 11th July
Box Hill City Oval at 11:10 AM
North Ballarat reserves:
B: Murnane Niblett Dickinson
HB: McHugh Caldow A. George
C: C. Benjamin Peters Chester
HF: Hall W. Benjamin McMahon
F: Micallef Boyd T. George
R: Orvis Je. Smith McKenzie
Int: Gubbins Bell Todd Raworth Luke Neurath Linke Monteith
