VFL: Northern Blues kick last two goals to claim pulsating win over arch rival Collingwood

NORTHERN Blues snapped a run of five consecutive losses in dramatic fashion on Sunday as a late Jarrod Pickett goal earned the club its first win since May.

Jason Williams kicked three goals in Northern Blues’ win over Collingwood. Picture: Michael Klein.

NORTHERN Blues snapped a run of five consecutive losses in dramatic fashion on Sunday as a late Jarrod Pickett goal earned the club its first win since May.

Pickett and Jesse Palmer kicked the last two goals of an absorbing contest against Collingwood as the Blues edged to an 11.10 (76) to 10.12 (72) victory at Olympic Park.

Northern raced to a 23-point lead in the opening 20 minutes, kicking five of the first six goals as second-gamer Jason Williams inspired the Blues.

Best afield Nick Graham slotted the opening goal after four minutes and Williams followed suit with two majors to launch the Blues 19 points ahead.

A late goal to former Carlton rookie Andrew Gallucci trimmed the deficit to 19 points and the Magpies carried their momentum into the second term, logging five goals to one to head to halftime with a six-point lead.

Jesse Palmer reels in a contested mark during Northern Blues victory. Picture: Michael Klein.

The second half was played with a similar pattern as goals from Pickett, Palmer and Williams restored Northern Blues’ advantage before Collingwood answered with the next three majors.

The last of those, from Gallucci, put the Magpies seven points in front at the 22-minute mark of the final term.

Palmer cooly converted from a set shot with five minutes on the clock to slash the margin to one point and Pickett found himself unmarked in the goal square to put the Blues in front one minute later.

The result was a 134-point turnaround from Round 1, when Northern was pummelled by 130 points and conceded 201 points against Collingwood.

“We didn’t speak too much about Round 1 leading into today, it was more the good things

we have been doing and being able to do them for longer,” coach Josh Fraser said.

Fraser said he was thrilled with the way his side responded when the Magpies hit the front during the last quarter.

“Our boys rolled their sleeves up and cracked in and stayed disciplined and found a way to win a game,” he said.

“They’ll get incredible belief off the back of this and the message is to make sure they enjoy it but good sides back up so that is our next challenge.”

Graham had 35 disposals, 10 tackles and eight clearances, displaying the class he often exhibits at VFL level.

Northern Blues next host Footscray on Saturday from 10am at Princes Park.