An eight-goal-to-two second half has seen the Northern Blues overrun by eight points to Essendon in a gripping contest at Preston City Oval on Saturday.

It was another case of disappointment for the Blues in 2015, who led by as much as 25 points at half-time before being going down 9. 14. (68) to 11. 10. (76).

While an even first quarter saw the Blues lead by the narrowest of margins at the opening break, the second term saw Luke Webster’s men churn out arguably their best football of 2015.

Restricting Essendon to just five inside-50s for the quarter, the Blues piled on four goals of their own to take a 25-point lead into the main break.

Bill Gowers (two goals) constantly found himself in the right position in the first half, while Nick Graham and David Ellard were central in the Blues’ midfield dominance early.

Inaccuracy was the only thing preventing the Blues from taking a potentially game-winning lead into the final break, having 16 scoring shots to six at the main break.

After half-time, it was as if the sides had traded jumpers, as the Bombers ran in three unanswered goals to the Blues’ solitary point in the third quarter to cut Northern’s lead to just four at three-quarter time.

Essendon picked up from where it left off in the last term to hit the front with two early goals, before set-shots through Blaine Johnson – the first since the 23-minute mark of the second quarter – and Ellard regained the lead for the Blues.

Exemplary pressure from the Blues (81-49 tackles) was the backbone for their early ascendancy, but they struggled to get the ball in the final term (47-79 disposals).

However, late goals through Essendon’s Jonathan Giles and Kyle Langford - the latter in the game’s final minute - ultimately confined the Blues to their fourth loss of the season.

Graham (23 disposals) fought valiantly but was well curtailed in the last quarter, while Nick Holman (13 disposals, 11 tackles) was typically dogged in a shutdown role on Nick O’Brien (20 possessions).

VFL debutant Alexander Aurrichio finished with 18 hitouts to partner five possessions and five tackles opposed to Essendon-listed ruckman Jonathan Giles.

Shaun McKernan loomed as the danger man for Essendon early, while O’Brien’s 20 second-half possessions were central in his side’s fightback.

Speaking post-match, Holman said the result left a hollow feeling, especially after a dominant opening half.

“For the most part we played really good footy in the first half but then we let it slip,” Holman said.

“We went away from the things we were doing really well early.

“We let them get a bit of a run on in the third (quarter) and we couldn’t quite stop that completely, and in the end that cost us.”

A major positive for the Blues was the way they went about their footy in the first half, which Holman described as “some of the best we’ve played all season”.

“It’s the kind of things that ‘Webby’ (coach Luke Webster) assured us of post-game, that when we’re playing to our potential and how we want we can beat most sides,” he said.

“Our pressure was something that we really pride ourselves on and we were good in that aspect today again.”

The result will be a difficult one for the Blues to handle, having displayed some very good football to take a comfortable lead into the main break. It leaves the Blues lingering at 2-4, with a difficult game against 2014 grand finalist Box Hill to come next Sunday.

NORTHERN BLUES 3.3 7.9 7.10 9. 14. (68)
ESSENDON 3.2 4.2 7.6 11. 10. (76)

GOALS
NORTHERN BLUES: Gowers 2, Johnson 2, Watson, Wilson, Walsh, Wilkinson, Ellard
ESSENDON: Giles 2, Langford 2, McKernan 2, Coghlan, Hardingham, Heavyside, Laverde, Polkinghorne

BEST
NORTHERN BLUES: Graham, Walsh, Fields, Johnson, Ellard, McGuinness
ESSENDON: McKernan, Gwilt, O’Brien, Tipungwuti, Steinberg, Giles