The Northern Blues were handed their fifth consecutive loss by Essendon at Windy Hill today.

The Blues struggled to contain a Bombers outfit laden with AFL-listed quality, eventually falling  16. 15. (111) to 4. 6. (30). 

The Blues tried to stave off an early onslaught from the home side, conceding 19 inside 50s in the opening term.

The away side was lucky that an inaccurate Bombers forward line left Northern trailing by only 18 points at the quarter-time break. 

Captain Tom Wilson stepped up to the plate early in the second term with an instinctive left-foot snap over his head which sailed through to get the Blues up and going.

It was to prove the Blues' only major for the term in a stalemate second quarter which saw the Bombers maintain their three-goal buffer into half-time.

The Blues had the game taken away from them, thanks in no small part to Bombers forward Jayden Laverde, who booted four second-half goals to finish with six. 

 

Northern was kept goalless in a difficult third term and was left a monumental task to conjure a result which never came to fruition.

The final margin blew out to a disappointing 81 points, after a nine-goal-to-two final term in favour of the Bombers.

On what was a dirty day for the team, Cameron O’Shea held firm and was yet again a rock down back with 29 disposals, 12 marks and a goal.

Harrison Macreadie was also resolute down back, amassing 25 disposals to go with five marks and plenty of rebound from deep in defence.

Of the midfielders, Luke Russell battled hard all day with 27 touches and an equal team-high four clearances.

The Blues head to Mars Stadium next weekend to take on the North Ballarat Roosters.

ESSENDON VFL 3.8   4.11   7.13   16.15  (111)
NORTHERN BLUES 1.2   2.4   2.6   4.6   (30)

GOALS
Northern Blues: Gorringe, O’Shea, Pickett, Wilson

BESTS
Northern Blues: O’Shea, Russell, Macreadie, Wilson, Blakey, Armfield