A devastating Northern Blues sent a message to the rest of the competition with a record-breaking 157-point victory over Frankston at Etihad Stadium today.
 
An unstoppable Blues were ruthless from start to finish registering their highest score over Frankston in 32 to years in the 28. 9. (183) to 3. 8. (26) percentage-boosting victory.
 
In what was the perfect pre-cursor to Carlton’s game against the Gold Coast Suns, the clash with the Dolphins was the last of two home curtain raisers for the Blues in 2015.
 
Blaine Johnson and Liam Jones were the chief instigators on the scoreboard, kicking six goals apiece in a brutal display of forward efficiency.
 
Converting 73% of their forward 50 entries in the first half, the Blues burst out of the blocks with five goals in the opening 13 minutes and didn’t look back for the entire contest.
 
The Blues dominated all facets of the game, with the four-prong attach of Johnson, Jones, Matthew Watson and Jayden Foster combining for 18 goals between them.
 
Blaine Boekhorst was again one of Northern’s best, accompanying his two goals with 29 disposals to be the most prolific ball winner on the day.
 
Michael Jamison continued his return from injury with 18 disposals in a polished display, while Matthew Dick (28 disposals) was equally impressive in his comeback from a calf injury.
 
The only blemish of the day was a potential hip injury to Matthew Watson, who didn’t return to the field after three quarter time with the game very much done and dusted.
 
The magnitude of the victory resulted in a percentage boost of 20 per cent, with consecutive victories meaning the Blues are right in touch with the top eight.
 
Two lots of nine goals in the first two quarters saw Northern hold a 102-point lead at the main break, with the major intrigue in the final term surrounding whether the Blues could notch up the double ton.
 
The Blues dominated all aspects of the game, trouncing the Dolphins in disposals (399-187), uncontested marks (127-41) and inside 50s (62-32).
 
The result was a welcome relief for the Blues, who have had to deal with close results almost exclusively in 2015.
 
Speaking post-match, Jones spoke of the relief in putting together a four quarter effort - something which has been lacking for the season.
 
“We had a really good game against Werribee which we could build on, and the boys did exactly that today,” Jones said.
 
“We got a lot of confidence against a real quality outfit last week, but to put in the four quarters and put a team away like that was really pleasing and confidence-building.”
 
On a personal level, Jones’s bag of six saw him adjudged as his side’s best player by his coaches, with his scoreboard impact coming largely through his aerial dominance (13 marks, 8 contested).
 
“I came into the game to have some time up forward but also in the ruck, but it was really pleasing to get some reward for effort with the boys out there giving me a lot of opportunity,” Jones said.
 
Jones will return to familiar territory next week, as the Blues come up against the reigning premiers Footscray.
 
Northern make the trip down to Whitten Oval at 2pm next Saturday, with the opportunity to make it three in a row with a spot in the top eight potentially beckoning.
 
NORTHERN BLUES                 9.3       18.7     25.8     29. 9. (183)
FRANKSTON                           1.1       2.1       2.4       3. 8. (26)
 
GOALS
NORTHERN BLUES: Johnson 6, Jones 6, Foster 3, Watson 3, Russell 2, Boekhorst 2, Wilson 2, Fields 2, Aujla, Bransgrove, Wilkinson
FRANKSTON: Irving, Cass, Buchan
 
BEST
NORTHERN BLUES: Jones, Bransgrove, Boekhorst, Johnson, Fields, Foster
FRANKSTON: Irving, Pongracic, Cavarra, Foote, Tuddenham, Gray