The Northern Blues have broken an eight-year hoodoo at Eureka Stadium today with a comfortable 31-point victory over the North Ballarat Roosters.

The Blues led from start to finish on a sunny Saturday afternoon in Ballarat to triumph 17. 10. (112) to 11. 15. (81).

Northern set the tone early, jumping out of the blocks kicking the first four goals of the game.

The Blues’ efficient spread had the Roosters on the back foot in the first term, amassing eight scoring shots from only 10 forward-50 entries.  

Despite Northern’s early domination of the contest, a late goal to North Ballarat midfielder Luke Kiel kept the quarter time margin to 18 points.

Goals from Blues skipper Tom Wilson and winger Blaine Boekhorst ensured a positive start to the second term with the margin getting out to an even five goals.

In his VFL debut, Harry McKay got on the board for the first time with a clean pick-up, snap and goal, while a defensive effort from Dillon Viojo-Rainbow showed how desperate the Blues were at the contest.

Midfielder Mark Whiley (38 disposals for the day) was ever-prominent and also managed to hit the scoreboard, kicking his first goal in the shadows of half-time.

Both teams traded blows on the scoreboard and in the heart of midfield as a shootout emerged at Eureka Stadium, with both teams combining for 13 goals in an entertaining affair.

Some individual brilliance by Hisham Kerbatieh (19 disposals, two goals) saw him break the lines to brilliantly set up Viojo-Rainbow who finished his goal on the run with aplomb.

The Blues slightly edged clear, kicking seven goals to six to end the quarter 31 points clear of the Roosters, which would ultimately prove to be the final margin.

The Roosters provided a bit of a scare for the Blues during the last term to get within 17 points, but back-to-back majors from the outstanding Wilson and McKay got the lead back out to an unassailable 30-point buffer.

Wilson was back to his early season form with 35 disposals and three goals, combining with Whiley and Blaine Boekhorst (30 disposals, three goals) as the standouts on the day.

The win, which was the Blues’ first in eight years at the venue, saw them register the four points for the first time in a month in their fifth win of the year.

Speaking post-match, Whiley said it was pleasing that the playing group managed to respond following the disappointment of last weekend.

“It was good to bounce back from a disappointing one last week - we came in with a few focuses, honed in on them and it was good to get the result,” Whiley said.

“We started a bit better than last week and came in with an aggressive mindset to turn the ball over our way.”

The Blues will return to Ikon Park next Sunday when they host Footscray from 2pm. 

NORTH BALLARAT 1.4       3.7       9.11     11. 15. (81)
NORTHERN BLUES 4.4      8.5       15.6     17. 10. (112)

GOALS
Northern Blues: Boekhorst 3, Wilson 3, Kerbatieh 2, McKay 2, Whiley 2, Barrett, Gorringe, Gowers, T. Jones, Viojo-Rainbow

BESTS
Northern Blues: Wilson, Whiley, Boekhorst, T. Jones, Korcheck, L. Jones