North Ballarat ended its three-game losing streak in style, outclassing an unsettled Northern Blues side by 22 points at Etihad Stadium on Saturday.

Played amid the unfamiliar conditions of lights, a yellow Sherrin and a roof, the visiting Roosters overturned a seven-point quarter-time deficit to dominate after the first change, recording a 14. 10. (94) to 11. 6. (72) win.

With a Blues coming off consecutive wins and facing a Roosters side coming off back-to-back 14-goal losses, pre-game form counted for naught.

Led by Bryce Curnow who starred with five goals, North Ballarat amassed a staggering 50 more uncontested marks than the Blues, making a strong charge in the second quarter to lead by 18 points at half-time. Only accuracy in front of goal – 4.7 for the quarter from 14 inside-50s – kept the margin from blowing out to concerning proportions for the Blues.

An opening goal to captain Bransgrove looked to inspire the Blues after half-time, but was answered swiftly by the Roosters who kicked the next five in succession to blow the lead out to 40 points before the Blues got three back via Mark Whiley, Fraser Russell and Robert Warnock (17 possessions, 28 hit outs and two goals).

Tom Wilson (two goals) and Dillon Vojo-Rainbow skilfully sailed a banana goal through from the boundary line as the Blues looked to mount a final charge, but it was all too little too late.

Brad Walsh (20 possessions, 12 contested) and Nichoas Graham (19 possessions) battled manfully in the midfield, but the points unanimously favoured Rooster captain Myles Sewell, with excellent support from Nick Rippon and Kangaroos-listed Trent Dumont.

Speaking post-match, Walsh said his side was left to lick their wounds after a lackluster second quarter took the match out of their hands.

“We’re pretty disappointed by the effort, we came here today pretty confident that we’d put up a good fight,” Walsh said.

“Unfortunately, if you have one poor quarter it can let you down.

“There’s lots of things to think about for the week and hopefully we’ll get it right for next Saturday.”

Already eying off the Round 6 clash with Essendon – which earlier fell to 2014 grand finalist Box Hill Hawks by 17 points – the big-bodied midfielder said his side’s focuses remained similar.

“Uncontested marks were huge thing for this game and we knew that going into the game, so we’re disappointed that we let them get so much of it in that second quarter.

“Essendon who we’re coming up against next week will have a similar game style so we’re going to have really look at improving those areas for seven days time.”

The Blues will look to bounce back against the Bombers back at their spiritual home of Preston City Oval for the first time in 2015, next Saturday. 

NORTHERN BLUES 3.2 4.2 11.8 11. 6. (72)
NORTH BALLARAT 2.1 6.8 8.3 14. 10. (94)

GOALS

NORTHERN BLUES: Warnock 2, Wilson 2, Whiley, Russel, Strachan, Bransgrove, Jones, Foster, Vojo-Rainbow
NORTH BALLARAT: Curnow 5, Black, Kiel, Hooper, Lyle, Preuss, Mullet

BEST

NORTHERN BLUES: Graham, Walsh, Wilkinson, Fields, Ballard, Strachan
NORTH BALLART: Sewell, Dumont, Curnow, Tippett, Warren, Durdin

STATS (CARLTON PLAYERS):

Brad Walsh: 21 disposals (nine contested), four marks

Dylan Buckley: 12 disposals, four marks

Tom Fields: 14 disposals (14 kicks), five marks

Liam Jones: Nine disposals, four marks, one goal

Nick Holman: Three disposals

Blaine Boekhorst: 13 disposals, two marks

Jayden Foster: 11 disposals, two marks

Nick Graham: 18 disposals (10 contested), six clearances, one goal

Matthew Kreuzer: 10 disposals, four marks, 18 hitouts

Billy Gowers: 10 disposals, three marks

Mark Whiley: 17 disposals (seven contested), five clearances, one goal

Fraser Russell: Nine disposals, two marks, one goal

Dillon Viojo-Rainbow: Seven disposals, one goal

Clem Smith: 11 disposals

Rob Warnock: 17 disposals (12 contested), two marks, two goals