The Roosters had too much class for the Gold, winning 22.17 (149) to 7.8 (50).

“We were outplayed, that’s the bottom line,’’ Gold coach Aussie Jones said.

“Every week we have three or four different blokes elevate to the level, but the guys who were good the week before seem to drop off.

“Getting enough contributors for the game of footy is our biggest challenge.”

The Roosters led by four goals at quarter-time and extended the margin at every change.

“If you took the scoreboard out of the equation at quarter-time we were right in the contest.

“Inside 50’s were even and it was even contest around the ground.

“The difference was that North Ballarat hit the scoreboard and we didn’t.

“The game followed that path all day.”

To rub salt into the Gold’s wounds, Strath Storm-listed forward Bryce Curnow kicked five goals for the Roosters.

The former Golden Square junior is enjoying his best season at VFL level with North Ballarat.

“Bryce is a good kid – I wish he didn’t kick five against us though,’’ Jones said.

“He covered a lot of territory up forward and got the reward with five goals.”

Ruckman Jeremy Lambden was the Gold’s best ahead of Matthew Farrelly, Jackson Sketcher and Joe Redfern.

“If we all had the mental application of Jeremy (Lambden) we’d be all in a better spot,’’ Jones said.

“He’s undersized and in experienced, but every single week he rocks up in a great frame of mind to take on the real big boys in the ruck that we play against.

“Farrelly was super across half-forward. The past three weeks he’s strung together some really good footy.

“Sketcher is in our top couple in decision making and he used the ball really well.

“We swung Joe Redfern to the backline for a couple of weeks just to show him the importance of every contest and he’s now bringing that desperation back to our forward half.”

The Bendigo Gold’s midfield was tore apart by the Roosters.

 North Ballarat’s Ben Jacobs was outstanding, picking up 42 possessions and kicking four goals in a best on ground performance.

“We got hammered in the middle,’’ Jones admitted.

“We’re going to have to make some changes there.

"Some of it will be change of personnel, some of it will be educational from our point of view." 

The Gold have the bye next weekend before hosting Coburg at the QEO on June 8.

Coburg is just two places above the Gold on the VFL ladder and have recorded two wins for the season.