The Northern Blues went down to Williamstown by 55 points at Ikon Park on Saturday afternoon.
It was a mostly one-sided affair in the final Northern home match of 2016, with the Seagulls ultimately running away 13. 20. (98) to 6. 7. (43) winners.
Northern took a youthful side into the game, with 19 players having no AFL experience and 14 players aged 21 or under.
The Blues took full advantage of an influential breeze in the first quarter, kicking long at every opportunity and getting out the back of contests.
After the Seagulls kicked the opening two goals of the game, the Blues began to utilise their advantage with three straight majors to take an eight-point lead into quarter-time.
After sustaining what looked to be a serious knee injury in the first quarter, Tim Totevski took no further part in the game.
The breeze picked up and the rain began to fall for most of the second quarter, with the reigning premiers able to take full advantage of the conditions.
The Seagulls kicked three goals in a matter of minutes to reclaim the lead and didn’t look back, piling on six unanswered goals for the quarter.
Williamstown dominated the territory for the entirety of the second quarter, highlighted through their ability to keep the Blues to just five inside 50s.
Northern started the second half well, kicking the first two goals of the third to draw within 29 points – including a goal to the impressive debutant, Mason Blakey.
The Seagulls put their foot back on the accelerator late in the term, however, kicking three late goals and cutting off the Blues’ run.
Inaccuracy prevented Williamstown from kicking out to an even bigger lead, mustering 2.9 to a solitary Harry McKay goal in the final term to run away comfortable 55-point winners.
Jason Tutt led the way with 32 disposals, while Blakey drew the acclaim of his coaches in his debut which saw him collect 14 disposals, kick a goal and provide plenty of forward pressure.
Speaking post-match, Northern Blues senior coach Josh Fraser said the result was a difficult one to take but the individual signs from some of the club’s youngsters was heartening.
“There was a fair bit to take away from it – I thought some of what we produced was quite good keeping in mind the side we had and the opportunity that was on offer,” Fraser said.
“I thought particularly early we were quite good but we fell away when they turned on the pressure: there’s a fair bit to take away, a bit to like and still a lot to work on.
“We gave some of our boys some exposure and they stood up in patches, it just wasn’t for long enough and we weren’t able to find another level.”
The Northern Blues will be looking to bounce back against the finals-bound Essendon in the final game of the season next week.
NORTHERN BLUES 3.4 3.5 5.7 6. 7. (43)
WILLIAMSTOWN 2.2 8.8 11.11 13. 20. (98)
GOALS
Northern Blues: Blakey, Wilson, Strachan, Ballard, McKay, Roos
BESTS
Northern Blues: Tutt, Strachan, Blakey, Wilson, McKay, Wood
