Despite sitting fifth on the ladder, Epping is in a battle for survival in Northern Football League’s division 2.
After losing to second-placed Fitzroy Stars, the Blues are three games outside the top four – and only one win above last place.
The bottom side at the end of the season will be relegated.
Blues coach Steve Power said lapses in concentration cost his side in the 11.15 (81) to 7.7 (49) loss at Sir Douglas Nicholls Oval.
“We had eight forced changes from the week before, which tested our depth.
“All I wanted was effort from the boys and they delivered. We wanted a low-scoring scrap of a game and we got that.
“We seem to have lapses of about five minutes in quarters and they made us pay.
“The Stars are smart at the stoppages and kicked goals once they got the ball out of the contest.”
Power judged Tommy Hughes, Leigh Judd, Mitch Henwood and Lucas Aqulina to be his side’s best players.
As for the rest of the season, Power says the club will continue to select the younger players.
“Realistically, I think we are too far behind now to make finals. We have a battle of relegation and will be playing for survival the next five to six weeks. We’ll try to have the best players on the park each week and, as it happens, the younger kids are playing well.”
This week the Blues face the undefeated North Heidelberg. Mernda and Lalor both won their division 2 matches.
In division 1, Bundoora slipped out of the top four with a loss to Montmorency, while Whittlesea again fell just short, losing to Macleod.
