The story so far

It’s been very much a case of the old cliche for the Northern Blues so far in 2015: the performance versus the result.

Despite sitting in 11th position with a record of 3-6, the Blues can take heart from the way they’ve gone about their business so far this season. In fact, it’s not all too inconceivable or farfetched to suggest the wins and losses columns ought to be reversed to provide a fairer indication of how the Blues have played this season.

Coach Luke Webster would be ruing a multitude of lost opportunities early in the season, particularly should his side not turn around their fortunes in the second half of the year to earn a finals berth.

In the six losses, the heaviest was the 28-point loss to Box Hill in Round 7, while the average losing margin for the Blues is less than 14 points over the whole campaign. Suffice to say, Northern Blues games aren’t for the faint-hearted.

listen to ‘Northern Blues Podcast - Episode 4’ on audioBoom

How did we get here?

Round 1 vs Williamstown - LOSS (one point)
The opening game of the season very much set the tone for how the Northern Blues’ season was to play out. Plagued by inaccuracy throughout the game, the Blues were made to pay against their nemesis Williamstown, falling by one point.

Best performers: Jason Tutt, Mark Whiley, Tom Fields

Round 2 vs. Port Melbourne - LOSS (23 points)
Despite ultimately going down by just under four goals, the Blues were right in this contest until the dying minutes. Trailing by 20 points at the main break, a standout third quarter saw the Blues hit the front and almost threaten to come away from North Port Oval with the four points.

Best performers: Nick Holman, Nick Graham, Tom Wilson

Round 3 vs. Sandringham - WIN (six points)
All looked to be going well for Northern on the way to its first victory of the season in the third quarter at Trevor Barker Beach Oval. However, an avalanche of shots on goal from Sandringham saw it take the lead in the final term, before the Blues rallied again to hold on in a thriller.

Best performers: Nick Graham, Kieran McGuinness, Nick Holman

Round 4 vs. Frankston - WIN (18 points)
In what was also the return of Matthew Kreuzer, the Blues made the trip down to Frankston full of confidence after getting the monkey off the back. A Kreuzer goal in the opening 30 seconds stood as the highlight as the Blues controlled play in a match where the wind influenced the scoring to get their second win on the trot.

Best performers: Nick Holman, Kieran McGuinness, Troy Menzel

listen to ‘Round 4 Post Match: Matthew Kreuzer’ on audioBoom

Round 5 vs. North Ballarat - LOSS (21 points)
Under the roof and lights at Etihad Stadium, the Blues couldn’t capitalise on a promising opening quarter, going down by 21 points against a North Ballarat side coming off consecutive 80-point losses. Brad Walsh was the standout for the Blues on a dirty day.

Best performers: Brad Walsh, Nick Graham, Glenn Strachan

Round 6 vs. Essendon - LOSS (eight points)
Another case of ‘what might have been’ for the Blues, with this arguably the pick of the bunch. Having played arguably their best football all year, the Blues led by 25 points at the main break. Poor conversion came back to haunt them, as the Bombers reversed the fortunes and the scoreboard to break the Blues’ spirit.

Best performers: Nick Graham, David Ellard, Brad Walsh

Round 7 vs. Box Hill - LOSS (28 points)
All the elements made for a tough, contested game which had the Blues holding their own for the majority of the first half. Box Hill would be too tall and too good in the second half, as the Blues battled bravely, but succumbed to their heaviest loss of the year.

Best performers: David Ellard, Matthew Kreuzer, Tom Fields

Round 8 vs. Coburg - LOSS (two points)
With wind playing havoc at Piranha Park, the Blues looked in control early before their inability to capitalise on the advantage in the conditions cost them dearly. They would press again late before the siren and Coburg ultimately beat them.

Best performers: David Ellard, Nick Holman, Matthew Watson

Round 10 vs. Werribee - WIN (four points)
Entering the clash with top-four hopeful Werribee off a barren run, the Blues put a slow start behind them to draw within eight points at the main break. The ensuing half an hour would see Northern muster its most brutally efficient passage of football for its year to date. Matthew Watson booted six, and despite a late Werribee charge, the Blues’ 30-point three-quarter time lead was enough for them to hang on.

Best performers: Matthew Watson, Mark Whiley, Blaine Boekhorst

Star performer
Nick Holman - Arguably leading the Laurie Hill Trophy at this stage, it’s been some start to the season for Nick Holman. Having spent last year alternating between a number of roles, Holman was earmarked for a more settled midfield role over the pre-season and has reaped the rewards. Holman was given the role of shutting down the other side’s best midfielder, with James Magner, Shane Hockey and Alex Woodward his major scalps, having also won his fair share of possession.

listen to ‘Round 6 Post Match: Nick Holman’ on audioBoom

Setting a platform
Blaine Boekhorst - Having now had a taste of AFL and VFL football, Blaine Boekhorst will be looking to build on the solid foundation he has set early this season. Spending the majority of the opening three months acclimatising to the speed and style of the competition, Boekhorst has improved by the week particularly recently, and has looked to benefit from increased midfield time. With arguably his two best performances coming in the last two games, the first-round draft pick could be looking at a senior recall should this form continue.

Standout performance
Matthew Watson vs. Werribee (Round 10) - It was the elusive bag that he’s been waiting for all season. Having kicked six lots of three goals since moving up forward late last year, Watson released the shackles to effectively kick six in one half of football. From the first minute of the second term to just past the halfway mark of the third quarter, Watson slotted half a dozen and marked everything coming his way to rip the contest from the Tigers’ grasp. His impact on the scoreboard was accompanied by 12 disposals and eight marks, and it was the sheer dominant performance which he just hadn’t quite put together previously.


Matthew Watson celebrates one of his six goals against Werribee. (Photo: Jason Heidrich)

The story to come

The Blues know if they are to achieve the dream of finals, they have their work cut out for them and can afford very few slip ups. With the result against top-four contender Werribee the best possible start, it is imperative the Blues kick on and get the wins column ticking over.

The Blues will be mindful to avoid a repeat of 2014, where they went the final six matches without a win.

As the ladder currently stands, Northern will face each of the competition’s bottom three sides in the second half of the season - North Ballarat, Richmond and Coburg. Yet, given the Blues went down to the Roosters earlier in the year, Luke Webster and his troops will be under no illusions: there are simply no easy victories in the VFL.

With the opportunity to make it two in a row over Frankston this week, Northern still has a difficult trip against the reigning premier Footscray, as well as a return leg against Box Hill.

However, with five of the remaining nine fixtures at home, the Blues can still be justifiably optimistic about their hopes in 2015: the early season narrow losses simply must be converted to gritty victories should they stand any chance of a top-eight finish.