Five goals from Manly recruit Tyrone Armitage saw the Northern Blues triumph by three points against Sandringham in their second practice match at Ikon Park on Sunday afternoon.
A Blaine Johnson goal in the game’s final moments saw the Blues secure their second win in as many matches of the 2015 pre-season, in the process thwarting what would have been an impressive Sandringham comeback.
The Blues took the upper hand in the first half, taking charge late in the first quarter before kicking on in the second term.
The opening term saw a tight contest for the majority, before goals to Dennis Armfield and the lively Johnson late in the piece saw the Blues take a 10-point buffer into the first change.
An impressive second term from Northern saw the margin extended to 24 at the main break, largely thanks to the brilliance up forward from Armitage.
The Manly product booted three second-quarter goals - four in the first half - with two in particular being all class from the left forward pocket.
The run and spread of the Blues in the first half proved too much for the Zebras too handle, with the Blues monopolising uncontested ball (70-35 at the half) and disposals (135-76).
Sandringham hit back hard at the beginning of the second half, with a Jason Holmes goal from a free kick bringing the margin back to a single point.
Suffocating defensive pressure from Blues forwards Tom Wilson and Ben Walton saw Armitage reap the rewards, booting his fifth of the game to steady the ship.
A Spencer White mark and goal after the siren saw the game delicately poised at three quarter time, the Blues a solitary point the better heading into the last term.
Despite only being a pre-season affair, both sides refused to let up in the final quarter, the lead changing six times in the final 25 minutes alone.
A late Yllber Zijai goal looked to have won the game for the Zebras, before Johnson’s rushed shot on goal from outside the 50m arc bounced home with seconds remaining.
Returning Carlton midfielder David Ellard, in his first outing for 2015 following a hamstring injury, said the way the win was constructed boded well for the season ahead.
“The way the boys went about it was really positive: the ball movement that was on display I felt was really good and promises some big things for the year to come,” Ellard said.
“Individually I was pretty scrappy early but I felt I worked into the game, of course it was good to finish with a couple, but the big positive was the result and the performance that went with it.”
Ellard, who finished with 17 disposals and two majors, said he had pulled up well after the victory.
“It was good to have a run: it’s been a while since I’ve been out on the park so it was good to get back out there and of course get the win.”
The Northern Blues’ next practice match is against 2014 runner-up Box Hill on Good Friday at Ikon Park.
NORTHERN BLUES 3.1 7.5 9.7 13. 9. (87)
SANDRINGHAM 1.3 3.5 9.6 13. 6. (84)
GOALS
NORTHERN: Armitage 5, Johnson 2, Ellard 2, Casboult, Armfield, Graham, Walton.
SANDRINGHAM: Payne 3, White 2, Zijai, Simpkin, Kreymborg, Cook, Holmes, Hayes, Saunders,Dennis-Lane
