THE Northern Blues fell by 43 points to Williamstown in their Round 6 VFL fixture today.
The Blues succumbed to a fast-starting Williamstown outfit 12. 6. (78) to 5. 5. (35), with the home side kicking 10 of the opening 11 goals.
A young Northern outfit fielded 18 players aged 21 or under, with Matthew Kennedy (30 disposals, one goal) and Jack Silvagni (21 disposals, three goals) two of their best.
Against a side with more than five times the amount of VFL experience than them, the Blues were shocked into submission by the fast-starting Seagulls.
Three goals inside the opening 10 minutes of the play set the tone for the first half from the Seagulls.
Silvagni was on hand to hit the scoreboard, but it would prove to be Northern’s only goal of the first half as Williamstown stifled the Blues.
Sam Dunell and Ben Cavarra were just two who did the damage for the Seagulls, who had too many contributors on the day.
Andrew Phillips and Cameron Polson battled manfully in the middle of the ground throughout the second term, as the Blues went into the half-time break down by 44 points.
It would be the ruckman who would get the Blues back amongst the goals after a towering grab midway through the third term.
Northern didn’t drop their heads as the margin threatened to blow out, as they rolled up the sleeves in the final term.
The Blues left Williamstown scoreless in the final term and kicked three themselves, with the final margin standing at 43 points.
Silvagni once again spent time in the midfield while making the most of his opportunities up forward, while Jacob Weitering featured prominently in the back half on the way to 21 disposals.
Kennedy and Silvagni would also finish with seven clearances apiece, while youngster Ethan Penrith led the way with nine tackles.
The Northern Blues will look to bounce back next weekend when they head to Box Hill City Oval to take on the Hawks. It will be captain Tom Wilson’s 100th game.
WILLIAMSTOWN 6.3 8.3 12.6 12. 6. (78)
NORTHERN BLUES 1.1 1.1 2.1 5. 5. (35)
GOALS
Northern Blues: Silvagni 3, Kennedy, Phillips
BEST
Northern Blues: Silvagni, Polson, Kennedy, Fisher, Weitering, Palmer
