The Northern Blues have begun their 2017 VFL premiership season with a disappointing 29-point loss to Port Melbourne today.

In blustery conditions, the Blues were unable to hold off a spirited Borough outfit and eventually went down 12. 15. (87) to 8. 10. (58).

On Port Melbourne’s ‘Call to Arms’ and Chris Cain’s milestone game, the home side led at every change and had all the answers for the Blues.

Both teams were unable to gain a stranglehold on the match early as the momentum ebbed and flowed.

It was Port which was able to kick the first major of the day to which the Blues answered back straight away.

The margin never got beyond a goal in the first term with the home side taking a slender one-point advantage into quarter-time.

The second term began much like the first with neither Northern nor Port being able to break away from each other.

The home side then began to gain the ascendancy towards the back end of the quarter, keeping Northern goalless while kicking three of its own to head into the main break 22 points to the good.

The Blues tried hard to click up a gear early in the second half, but a dominant display from Jordan Lisle after the break (seven goals for the game) swung the contest in Port’s favour.
 

To Northern’s credit, it was able to drag the margin back to within a reachable three goals on the back of majors to key forwards Kristian Jaksch and Harry McKay.

However, from there, the Borough once again began to assert its dominance, largely through Lisle as well as the strong defensive performances of Hugh Sandilands and Brody Mihocek.

The Blues finished the game full of running, breaking even with Port against the wind into the final term but to no avail.

With eight debutants, a number of Northern youngsters rose to the occasion, as Carlton youngsters Zac Fisher (two final-quarter goals) and Cameron Polson joined Nick Graham as shining lights. 

Despite the late surge to end the game, Port’s favourite son Cain nailed a goal on the final siren to run out 29-point victors.

It continued Northern’s sorry form against Port, which is undefeated against the Blues since 2010.

The Northern Blues play the AIS Academy in an Etihad Stadium curtain raiser next week, before attempting to get their VFL season back on track against Williamstown in a fortnight.

Port Melbourne    2.5    5.9    8.11     12. 15. (87)
Northern Blues     2.4    2.5    4.9      8. 10. (58)

GOALS
Northern Blues: Jaksch 2, Fisher 2, Armfield, Gallucci, McKay, Sumner

BEST
Northern Blues: Graham, Silvagni, Polson, Sheehan, Wilson, Stavrou