A seething Northern Blues will be hoping to exact revenge on the travelling Werribee Tigers this weekend when the sides clash for the second time this season at Visy Park. Kris Neil previews the match.
In their previous encounter, the Tigers snapped the Blues’ unbeaten start to the year with an emphatic 102-point win at Avalon Airport Oval.
Werribee had the Blues measure right across the park in that contest, with 25 possessions (at 96% efficiency) from Jesse Crichton highlighting a lopsided affair.
Four goals apiece to Mason Wood and Ben Warren – who is leading the VFL goal-kicking – headed the ten players able to get among the majors for Werribee that evening.
Twenty-eight disposals and 12 tackles from Northern’s Jaryd Cachia was one of few positives in a dreary night for his side.
Since round four, the Tigers and Blues have experienced contrasting form.
Werribee have worked their way up to fifth on the ladder by winning six of their last nine matches.
On the other hand, the Blues have been up and down with four wins and five losses to sit perilously close to a September holiday in eighth place.
Both teams will enter this match on the back of more than five-goal losses at the hands of North Ballarat and Collingwood respectively.
To get back on the winners list, the Blues defence will need to be aware of their opponents getting dangerous on the counter-attack.
The inclusion of Dennis Armfield should help to nullify that threat with two-way running from the half-back line a trademark of his game.
A return to action for Dylan Buckley and Nick Holman who were late outs from the North Ballarat game should add depth to the midfield stocks for Northern.
That on-ball brigade will need to run deep against the deluge of quality Werribee midfielders that includes Jesse Crichton, Jye Bolton, Kieren Harper and Taylor Hine.
A new face will supply the Blues’ midfielders for the first time in 2014 after Cameron Wood was selected in the AFL for the first time in 693 days.
Robert Warnock will take his place and play his first game for the Northern Blues since round 12 last year following his omission from Carlton’s line-up.
Warnock faces a tough challenge against the ruck-duo of Daniel Currie – who returns after getting injured in round 10 – and Majak Daw.
Former Northern Knight Liam Hunt will make his VFL debut in the clash as the 23rd man while Dylan Reid could feature for the Tigers for the first time since round eight.
Player Watch
Matthew Watson (Northern Blues): Watson’s move into the forward-line shocked many Blues’ supporters, however it seems like a masterstroke as a return of six goals in two matches has breathed new life into the key position player. Watson has played with an aura of confidence in the last two rounds.
Ben Warren (Werribee Tigers): Warren had a field day against the Blues in round four with four goals, 19 disposals and seven marks. The Blues could look to put a lock-down defender on Warren to avoid a repeat of that performance.
Robert Warnock (Northern Blues): Warnock will be hoping to answer his critics with a big performance against the experienced duo of Currie and Daw. The clearance battle will be a crucial barometer for both sides and Warnock could help steer that in the Blues’ favour.
Head-to-Head
Played 50
Northern Blues 21
Werribee Tigers 29
Last Time They Met
R4, 2014: Werribee Tigers 20. 15. (135) defeated Northern Blues 3. 15. (33) at Avalon Airport Oval
Last Modified on 18/07/2014 16:34