The Northern Blues kicked off their Victorian Football League season with a bang on Saturday night, beating premiership fancies Werribee by 15 points.
In fact,the final margin flattered the Tigers, as the Blues were dominant for most of the night.
Most expected Werribee to win after the ominous 72-point victory over Port Melbourne the week before but the Blues got the jump early and were never headed.
The Blues kicked five goals to four in a tight first term and generally looked better.
Their pressure around the football was immense and would remain so for the rest of the game.
The win was set up in the second and third quarters, when the Blues kicked 11 goals to Werribee’s seven.
By three-quarter time the Blues had established a 26-point lead.
Werribee started the final quarter with two quick goals to cut the lead and were all of a sudden within 10 points.
But the Blues steadied, replied and eventually got out to an unassailable 33-point lead.
The Tigers kicked three late goals but it was too little too late and the Blues notched their first win for the season.
Tyson Thomas was outstanding, booting five goals, while Carlton-listed players Ed Curnow, Aaron Joseph and Robbie Warnock were all very good.
Warnock was influential in the ruck and had a big impact on the game.
