IN windy conditions on Saturday afternoon at Visy Park, the Northern Blues proved to be a class above Bendigo, running rampant after quarter time to run out 164-point winners. Joe Barresi looks at the Northern Blues victory.
With Robert Warnock dominating the hit outs for the Blues, Bendigo found it extremely difficult to get their hands on the ball and as a result, it was all one way traffic in favour of the Blues. With Carlton coach Mick Malthouse still seemingly undecided on his sides best 22 players, a host of Carlton listed players put their hands up for AFL selection.
The dominance of Warnock will coincide with Carlton's loss of Matthew Kreuzer to a thumb injury, with the 206cm ruckman almost certain to earn a return to AFL action. While Warnock had just over 50 hit outs against Bendigo, it was his work around the ground that was most impressive with the injury plagued ruckman notching up twenty disposals, five clearances and a goal.
Northern Blues coach Luke Webster played Jeremy Laidler forward in an attempt to add more flexibility to his game and Laidler didn't disappoint both of his coaches, gathering fifteen disposals and kicking three goals early in the game.
Ed Curnow, David Ellard and Tom Bell were all busy in the middle of the ground, combining for 73 disposals and five goals while Jarryd Cachia played a great shut down role while also finding the ball himself nineteen times.
Matthew Watson was again impenetrable down back along with Simon White and Patrick McCarthy while up forward it was Luke Mitchell and Troy Menzel who did the damage on the scoreboard from a Carlton perspective.
Mitchell took a number of strong contested marks while Menzel showcased his exquisite skills by kicking four goals and three behinds. The prized recruit who is the younger brother of Geelong's Daniel Menzel, looks to be a future star in the Steve Johnson mould, a magician who can do the impossible and snag a goal from just about anywhere in the forward fifty.
While a large number of AFL listed players played an influential part in the big win, it was the performance of a number of core Northern Blues players that really caught the eye. Brent Bransgrove again led from the front with the captain being the leading possession winner on the ground with 28 possessions and a goal while Adam Marcon was also impressive with 23 disposals and two goals.
Tyson Thomas worked hard on his kicking efficiency over the pre-season and it certainly showed, with the small forward having a day out with six goals and 14 possessions, leaving him right in the early running for the Frosty Miller Medal as the league's leading goal kicker.
The big win over Bendigo sees the Blues sitting comfortably on top of the Peter Jackson VFL Bailey Ladders Ladder in what can only be described as a brilliant start to the 2013 season.
The Blues will face long time rivals Coburg at Mantello Holden Oval this Sunday.
Last Modified on 17/04/2013 16:32