OF REDLEGS AND ROOSTERS

Yes, football is a strategic game and the magnetic board has come to rival a great chess game. But chess matches aren't played with the raw emotion and physical challenges of football. Although I suspect Roosters coach Stevie Wright isn't a chess man he has the Roosters playing with heightened emotion and purpose. Despite the absence of Stephen Jurica, Nathan Saunders, Craig Biddiscombe and Martin McGrath North Ballarat were inspiring as they clawed their way to victory over the AFL laden Cats last Saturday.

Forget the pleasantries, everyone knows there's a big difference between the culture of a reserves and a senior match. For dogged ruckman Nick Bye, and the irrepressible Marc Greig and Julian Field these wins are memories to treasure. It'll be no different when they eye off their AFL opponents in the Box Hill side in this week's televised match from North Ballarat. With their senior team at the cross road and their AFL partner on the bottom of the ladder the Hawks must be dreading the thought of trip down the Western Highway.

In the 60's and 70s Dandenong's Shepley Oval was the graveyard of VFA football. In those days Shepley was invariably under water and the Redlegs had some of the most fearsome players - Johnny Walker and Lyle Hendricksen were at the top of the list - going around. And while the North Ballarat Oval is like a bowling green and the days of thuggery are over, the home ground spirit and tribalism of the Roosters makes them a formidable opponent. All they need, as TXU Man of the match Julian Field told the ABC's Ross Booth after the match, is for the people of Ballarat to adopt them as their team. If they could drag 3,000 people through the gates they'd be every bit as significant to VFL football as the Redlegs were in the old VFA.

The club has the money and expertise to draw quality players. All it needs is for the City of Ballarat to grasp the opportunities for publicity that come from having a team in the state's premier domestic football competition. Why Ballarat didn't organise or lobby for a televised Eureka tribute match between North Ballarat and Bendigo in a year when the State Government is sponsoring major activities to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the famous rebellion is a mystery. With Essendon aligned with Bendigo and the Premier Steve Bracks a Ballarat boy the possibilities were endless. So too are the Roosters possibilities if they show the same passion against Andy Collins' Hawks on Saturday. Should be great TV.

REDLEGS OF OLD

If you thinking I'm playing with the truth when I say Lyle Hendricksen was probably the scariest footballer I've ever seen, I suggest you have a look at the Redlegs website www.dandenongdemonsfc.com.au and book a ticket for the reunion to be held on the 2nd of October 2004 at The Grand International, Thomas St Dandenong. With his tattoos, commando hairstyle and rippling muscles Lyle would have quite at home in the SAS. Just for the record the Dandenong Football Club played in the VFA from 1958 until the team's demise in 1994 and won four premierships.

TIME TO TALK SAYS GOTCH

As my colleague Paul Amy points out on in this edition of Inside Football the drums are beating around the issue of a cap on AFL players. It surprises me that clubs such as Williamstown and Sandringham remain so implacably opposed to the idea. I had a civilised discussion with Brad Gotch about this matter last Saturday before the telecast. Gotch was in Ballarat to watch the Seagull reserves play.

Although he doesn't support a cap on AFL players the dual VFA/VFL premiership coach says he is very conscious about giving VFL players a real chance and regularly discusses the issue with Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse, who, he says is now very sensitive about Willimastown's interests. However, what does concern him is the lack of opportunity for VFL coaches to discuss the complex issues that confront them when they have to juggle the sometimes conflicting interests of their AFL and VFL partners.

It's probably no surprise that Port Melbourne coach Peter Saultry has put the issue on the agenda. During his long association with Port, Saultry worked in the football department, when Gary Brice took the Burras to triple (1980/81/82) VFA premierships. Presidents need to think beyond the bottom line. Spirit, historical continuity, a sense of place and memories are what keep people at football clubs. That's but one of the many reasons why the issue of clubs using the VFL as a reserves competition needs to be taken up by our VFL coaches. I'll be listening.

SATURDAY

NTH BALLARAT v Box Hill Hawks (ABC TV)
Geelong v FRANKSTON

SUNDAY

SANDRINGHAM v Northern Bullants
WERRIBEE v Bendigo Bombers
PORT MELBOURNE v Williamstown