Roosters take on Darley in the Ballarat league grand final

The Roosters will take on Darley at City Oval in the Ballarat league grand final after beating East Point in the preliminary final last week.

But they starts as underdogs after the Devils won their last contest between the two by 61 points.

Head to head this season, Darley has won two of the three clashes with North Ballarat winning the other one, the only contest in Ballarat.

“The Darley game was a perfect storm,” McCartney said.

“They had a home final, they were sort of geared up as a club, their new rooms were open (as well).

“Everything fell into place for them.

“We were a bit raggedy forward of centre and didn’t quite get it through the goals when we had our opportunities.

“They kicked some easy ones (goals) in the third term and their midfield got on top a little bit.

“Then we rallied and conceded some late.”

McCartney said the score didn’t reflect what happened in the contest.

And two weeks on he thinks the Roosters are better equipped to deal with the Devils.

Usually during finals teams tire after multiple games in a few weeks.

As North Ballarat prepares for its fourth final the coach believes his team’s best footy is ahead of them.

“I do see some teams getting into a finals series and the longer they go the more worn out they are,” McCartney said.

“I see the odd team go through and get stronger week by week. I think that’s us.

“We’re such a young group so every game they play is such a bonus. We’re as strong as we can get and we’ve only had it once (full team) this year.

“We’re going to hit the ground running.”

Former Essendon and Western Bulldogs forward Stewart Crameri is ready to play after missing the preliminary final.

McCartney expects this game to be much closer against Darley.

“It won’t be like two weeks ago, I have no doubt about it,” he said.

“It will be a really tough struggle for both teams.”

North Ballarat is into its first grand final since 2015 and looking for the club’s first premiership since 2014.

A win would put them level with Ballarat for the most titles in the competition with 18.

If the team wins it would have done it through the Roosters production line, which made up more than three-quarters of the squad.

“It’s important for both clubs, it’s a culmination of the year,” McCartney said.

“For us it’s pretty much we made the decision a couple of years ago to develop from within (with our juniors).

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“So to do it that way (win a premiership) would be super pleasing.”

McCartney said a decision about his coaching future would be made after the grand final.

The two teams play off at City Oval at 2.30pm.

Originally published as Roosters take on Darley in the Ballarat league grand final