The Northern Blues have won their second consecutive game, defeating Frankston by 18 points in blustery conditions at Dolphin Park on Sunday.

With wind favouring one end ensuring the match was a game of two halves, the 11. 14. (80) to 9. 8. (62) win was complemented by the successful return to football for Carlton big man Matthew Kreuzer.

Playing solely up forward, Kreuzer finished with two goals - one of those in the first 30 seconds - in just over three quarters of game time.

The Blues were rampant in the opening term, using the aid of the breeze to keep Frankston scoreless on their way to a 35-point lead at quarter-time.

Nick Holman (22 disposals, one goal) was a central figure once again in dictating terms for the Blues, with his and Troy Menzel’s attack on the footy setting the tone early.

Frankston came roaring right back into the contest in the second term with five goals to one in the second term, playing some inspired footy to reduce the deficit to 10 points.

A wasteful Blues outfit could have potentially put the game to bed at three-quarter time, but inaccuracy in front of goal gave Frankston hope. A late Menzel goal saw the Blues’ lead extend to 33 points at the final change, but two early Frankston goals in the final term made for some nervy moments.

Ben Cavarra (25 disposals, one goal) was typically central in Frankston’s fightback, as was Jack Tynan in launching Frankston forward in the final stages when they threatened to pip the Blues.

While captain Shane Hockey (12 disposals) was well curtailed by Holman, Jordan Pollard was electric up forward and threatened to conjure something late.

It took an incredible goal to Fraser Russell before some big individual efforts from the likes of Rob Warnock (17 disposals, 34 hitouts) and Kieran McGuinness (25 disposals) ensured the Blues came away with all four points.

Matthew Watson was prominent up forward with three goals, while he was pushed down back in the final term and helped steady the ship as Frankston threatened.

It was a game largely influenced by the breeze, which saw 17 of the 20 goals for the game scored to one end.

Speaking post-match, Menzel paid testament to his teammates for holding on for the second week in a row with their backs to the wall in the last quarter.

“The boys started really well today but we were really heavily challenged in the last quarter, so it was great to hold on and come out with a really good win,” Menzel said.

“We knew Frankston were going to come at us especially with the big advantage with the wind, but we knew if we played the kind of football in the first quarter it would hold us in good stead.”

Having returned from injury in the win against Sandringham, Menzel (15 disposals, two goals) said that his body “felt a lot better than this stage last week”.

“The aim for today was to get a full game, but personally it was to put my best foot forward for the team to get the win,” Menzel said.

The Blues have the opportunity to make it three from three next week against North Ballarat on Saturday afternoon at Etihad Stadium from 1:15pm, as a curtain raiser to Carlton’s game against Greater Western Sydney.

FRANKSTON 0.0 5.4 6.4 9. 8. (62)
NORTHERN BLUES 5.5 6.8 10.13 11. 14. (80)

GOALS
FRANKSTON: Gardiner 2, Cavarra, Clark, Douglas, Irving, Pickess, Pollard, Sutton
NORTHERN BLUES: Watson 3, Kreuzer 2, Menzel 2, Russell 2, Holman, Johnson

BEST
FRANKSTON: Post, Cavarra, Buchan, Newman, Tynan, Pridgeon
NORTHERN BLUES: Holman, McGuinness, Perry, Bransgrove, Johnson, Tutt