NORTH Ballarat Roosters coach Gerard FitzGerald openly encourages his players to stick with their club of origin when not playing in the VFL.
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FitzGerald dismissed as rubbish reports some Hampden league players were seeking clearances from their local clubs to Ballarat league clubs under a new Roosters’ requirement.
Warrnambool premiership player Liam Hoy and Terang Mortlake’s Nick Couch, both Roosters-listed players, are seeking transfers from their home Hampden league clubs to Ballarat sides.
Both live in Ballarat but with the Roosters no longer having their own reserves side, they have played matches for their Hampden league clubs in recent seasons.
FitzGerald said any player on his list wanting to change their feeder club had to explain their reasons and seek permission from the Roosters before doing so.
He said he and the Roosters were proud of the relationships they had fostered with players’ home clubs.
FitzGerald revealed almost a third of the Roosters’ 36 contracted players remained with feeder clubs outside the Ballarat league. He said one remained with ties with the Hampden league and three each went back to Geelong and Central Highlands league clubs. The Roosters also have one player each listing their home club in the Wimmera, North Central, Bendigo and Mallee leagues. “We support the clubs who put the players up,” he said.
grbest@fairfaxmedia.com.au