North Melbourne young gun Mason Wood is quickly earning respect as he continues to improve in the VFL. The 192cm tall forward impressed Werribee coach Scott West despite the 15-point loss to the Northern Blues on Saturday night.

"I think he (Wood) has taken the step up to VFL senior level really well and with maturity," West told NMFC.com.au after the match.

"He led up to the footy really well and kicked a couple of nice goals. I think we've got to remember that he's only 18; you always have to take that into consideration even though they're playing senior footy.

"He's in a really good forward line for him to be able to play on a third or fourth tall defender with the way we're set up. He was really good tonight."

Majak Daw and Daniel Currie had their work cut out for them in the ruck against the 206cm Robbie Warnock and a finger dislocation to Currie early in the first quarter kept him off the ground for the rest of the opening term.

"I thought our guys were competitive but when Currie came off and was out for about 25 minutes that didn't help. Obviously his touch and tapping the ball was effected because his hand might have been giving him grief but he fought the game out and that's all we could ask for."

Although Daw wasn't as impressive in the ruck, the number 38 showed encouraging signs up forward with two goals and a handful of strong overhead marks.

"We know Majak can ruck around the ground but moving him forward will also help him for AFL selection. He needs to move up forward, kick goals and mark the footy and he did that tonight. He was terrific."

Levi Greenwood was kept quiet by his Northern Blues opponents who wouldn't let him lose after an outstanding performance seven days prior.

"Unfortunately when you're a good player and you play well the week before that's going to happen," West said.

"We moved him forward and I thought he handled that really well and got himself back in the game. He's going to get that (tagged) in his career and I guess he's going to have to deal with it...I thought he battled on manfully but his opponent probably got the better of him tonight."

Ayden Kennedy and Will Sierakowski returned for the Tigers this weekend with solid contributions.

"They both didn't play last week so it was their first full competitive hit out for the year," West said.

"Ayden coming off an ankle injury, he probably wasn't the Ayden that finished off last year. He's really at his best when he rebounds and kicks it inside fifty or centre wing.

"Siera (Sierakowski) played on Scotland (Heath) for a little bit and I thought he did a good job. Probably didn't get as much of the ball as he would have liked but he'll be better for the run."

New recruit Jordan Gysberts wasn't as accurate with his disposal but also wasn't given the best opportunity.

"I don't think he was as effective with the footy, like a lot of our players he was under a lot of pressure.

"He still had a fair bit of the pill but with Warnock getting first hand of the ball that probably took his influence out of the game a little bit. Probably didn't get as much free ball and spread as well this week."

Rookie Tim McGenniss was busy covering a lot of ground and like several others, didn't impact the game as well as in the previous week.

"Really varied role for him (McGenniss) tonight, half-forward, up wing, inside mid...Probably didn't get any continuity in position which played against him and he wasn't as influential as last week," West explained.

Among Werribee's best was father-son hopeful Luke McDonald, who showed off the smooth skills which have made him the most talked about youngster yet to make it on the Kangaroos list.

"I thought Luke was terrific. He shows poise above his years and makes really good decisions with the footy.

"Again he's at that age where he's just getting used to senior footy, the higher intensity and physicality. His energy levels probably waned a little at the end because of that but I thought he was really good."

North development coach and midfielder Jarred Moore was amongst the Tigers' best yet again.

Werribee Tigers 4.4 7.7 11.11 17.13 (115) Northern Blues 5.3 10.6 16.7 20.10 (130)

GOALS:
Werribee Tigers: Clouston 4 Wood 2 Daw 2 Warren 2 Meredith McDonald Mather Maric Martiniello Brown McGenniss Northern Blues: Thomas 5 Marcon 2 Buckley 2 Totevski 2 Temay Bransgrove Meese Watson Wilson Warnock Visser Lambert Menzel

BEST:
Werribee Tigers: Graham Moore Ross Wilson McDonald Clouston Northern Blues: Cachia Thomas Curnow Lambert Joseph Warnock