The Northern Blues have ended their 2016 VFL premiership season with a disappointing 73-point loss to Essendon at Windy Hill on Saturday.
The Blues were well and truly in the contest early on, but a second-half fade out saw them humbled 19. 18. (132) to 8. 10. (58).
It was the Blues who were able to gain the ascendancy early in the contest after the Bombers kicked the first goal against the run of play.
Goals to Hisham Kerbatieh, Harry McKay and Cameron Wood ensured the Blues were rewarded for their manic pressure in the first term.
The Blues dominated general play with 110 disposals to 78 and 18 inside 50s to 12, but were only able to take a one-goal lead into the quarter-time break.
A tight tussle ensued to begin the second term, with the lead changing twice as Essendon evened up the contest.
The Bombers outmuscled the Blues at the contest, almost doubling the clearance count for the half (23-12). Luckily for the Blues, both teams went goal-for-goal and ended the first half level, locked at 6. 6. (42) apiece.
The Bombers began the second half with plenty of gusto and the Blues’ defence started to feel the pinch, but still managed to remain in the contest with important goals against the flow.
Another lopsided clearance count in favour of the Bombers (11-7) ended up taking its toll, as the margin blew out to 19 points in the shadows of three-quarter time on the back of 19-9 inside 50s.
Northern struggled to get back in to the contest as the Bombers’ superior run and carry proved too much in the last term.
The Bombers piled on eight unanswered goals in the final term and the last 10 goals of the game to streak away with the match and cement a finals berth.
It was a poor finish for the Blues, and largely summed up a year where they were in the game for three quarters but were made to pay for a disappointing half hour of football.
Speaking post-match, Harry McKay said the Blues were left to lament a lack of a four-quarter performance.
“We started quite well and showed some good signs - it was a bit of the story of the year and the margin in the end was disappointing,” McKay said.
“I think this year has been pretty positive on the whole though, we’ll go in over the summer and build on the positive signs shown this year.
“We’re excited by what our team can bring, we had a lot of youth and excitement in the side today and that’ll hold us in good stead for the future, the young guys getting games under their belt.”
ESSENDON 2.3 6.6 11.11 19. 18. (132)
NORTHERN BLUES 3.4 6.6 8.10 8. 10. (58)
GOALS
Northern Blues: Wood 2, Kerbatieh, McKay, Casley, Ballard, Korcheck, Strachan
