The Northern Blues have suffered a 48-point crushing at the hands of an avenging Werribee Tigers outfit at Visy Park on Sunday afternoon.

The Blues trailed for nearly the entire day, but never looked like a heading a hungry Tigers’ side keen to rectify their Round 1 loss.

It took a bone-crunching forward 50 tackle from Jaryd Cachia and slick hands from Frazer Dale to set up the Blues’ first goal courtesy of Adam Marcon.

Sam Rowe then plucked a brilliant hanger and successful converted his set shot from dead in front to give the Blues a 2-point buffer, before Werribee took over to kick the final two goals of the quarter and take a nine-point lead into the first break.

The Blues became very wasteful kicking with the wind to the Legends Stand of Visy Park and the Tigers made them pay.

Only a goal to Nick Duigan – returning from suspension – after some terrific forward 50 pressure from Andrew Collins and Marcon, kept the Blues in the hunt.

Turnovers and weight of inside 50s would take it’s toll on a tiring Blues back six, as the Tigers ran in three second-quarter goals to take a 23-point lead into the major break.

It was all Werribee after the break as errors identical to what transpired in the second quarter, continued to be a motif in the third.

Despite strong contributions from Dave Ellard (10 tackles), Cachia (six) and Marcon (five), the Blues midfield defensive pressure was virtually extinct, emphasised by Werribee’s domination of the inside 50s, 36-64.

As the Blues toiled manfully against the wind in the third quarter, they were no match for the rampant Tigers, as Werribee piled on eight third-quarter goals to just two solitary behinds for the Blues.

Taking a 72-point lead into three-quarter time, the result was all but sewn up.

However, the Blues would ultimately take confidence from the final quarter, in a seven-goals-to-three final term.

Rhys O’Keeffe (31 disposals, 13 contested) completed a fine day with two last-quarter goals, while being an enormous force with 12 possessions in the term and a goal-of-the-year contender.

His work partnered Duigan’s (three goals) and Rowe’s (two) as the Blues kicked their entire score for the first three quarters, within eight minutes of the final term.

Despite kicking the first five to get the margin within 31 points, some steadiers from Werribee proved too much to overhaul for the Blues; the Tigers running out 48-point winners at the final horn.

Ellard was superb again in racking up 30 possessions, as well as leading the tackle count plus 11 clearances for his side, while Cachia kept Kangaroos-listed Jordan Gysberts to just five disposals after half time, collecting 20 himself.

Aaron Joseph was again prolific off half back in tandem with skipper Andre Gianfagna, while Marcon and ruckman Nick Meese were tireless through the midfield, particularly coming to the fore in the final term.

Speaking to carltonfc.com.au post-match, Ellard pointed to a lack of capitalisation when his side had the wind as reason for the loss.

“We let ourselves down particularly in that third quarter. Our work rate was disappointing especially when we were kicking with the breeze in the second quarter,” Ellard said.

“Our middle two quarters summed up our day with just not being able to take up opportunities and letting them get on top of us.”

Ellard said that in spite of the loss, the Blues could take something out of their last quarter surge.

“We got the game back on our terms in that last quarter kicking seven goals, so we were pleased how we responded.

“There was a lot at stake today and we let ourselves down. It’ll just make us hungrier to bounce back, get the four points and get us into a solid finals position.”

The loss sees the Blues outside the top eight behind Essendon and Port Melbourne on percentage.

They travel to Burbank Oval for the final home-and-away match against fourth-placed Williamstown next Saturday afternoon.

NORTHERN BLUES 2.1 3.5 3.7 10. 10. (70)
WERRIBEE TIGERS 3.4 6.10 14.13 17. 16. (118)

GOALS: Duigan 3, O’Keeffe 2, Rowe 2, Marcon, Wilson, Meese

BEST: O’Keeffe, Ellard, Marcon, Joseph, Duigan, Rowe

Matthew Lodge covers Northern Blues games for Carltonfc.com.au. You can follow him on Twitter: @MatthewSLodge