BOX Hill Hawks were defeated by the Williamstown on Sunday at Box Hill City Oval by 14 points.
With the Hawks high percentage ,they will remain on top of the ladder heading into finals next week, beginning on Saturday with a clash against last year’s premiers, Footscray.
Hawthorn-listed player Sam Grimley kicked one goal to secure the Frosty Miller Medal for his second year in a row.
Grimley kicked 42 majors for the year and will share the medal with Richmond’s Liam McBean and Port Melbourne’s Jordan Lisle.
“It is an honour to win it again and share it with Liam and Jordan, but ultimately we are just trying to chase the premiership at the end of the year,” Grimley said.
Coach Marco Bello put the loss down to the Hawks not gaining control of the ball inside the midfield.
Williamstown won the majority of the centre clearances, which was the main driver of the game.
“They won 15 to five clearances out of the middle. When you are winning enough ball in the middle you are able to get it inside 50 which leads to scoring shots,” Bello said.
“We were always going to have to fight and we did for a lot of it but when the ball comes inside their forward 50 that many times, they're going to hit the scoreboard at least 50 percent of the time."
Williamstown were able to force the Hawks to turn the ball over across half forward and counter attack quickly deep into their forward 50.
“They were really effective in being able to slingshot from their defensive end,” Bello said.
“The boys didn't play great football, we have to get back to the football that we have been playing all year and that wasn't it today,” he said after the game.
Both Box Hill sides will play this Saturday at Box Hill City Oval, with development kicking off at 11am against Williamstown in the second semi-final, followed by the seniors against Footscray at 2pm.
SCORES
BOX HILL HAWKS 4.3 7.7 8.7 10.8 (68)
WILLIAMSTOWN 3.5 5.9 8.12 11.16 (82)
Goals: Williams 2, O’Brien, Tobin, Heatherley, Simpkin, Miles, Grimley, Evans, Schoenmakers
Best: O’Donnell, Whitecross, Willsmore, Evans, O'Brien
*Social media image - Jenny Owens
