BOX Hill Hawks claimed a 40-point victory over VFL reigning premiers Footscray in their qualifying final on Saturday at Box Hill City Oval.
The win will give the Hawks a week off as they head straight into the preliminary finals.
After a loss last week against Williamstown, the Hawks knew they had to work hard to get back to playing their normal style of footy, the style that saw them finish on top of the ladder.
“We were keen to rebound after last weeks loss, we knew if we got back to how we have been playing all year we would have a good chance of a good game and a good win,” Hawthorn-listed midfielder Jonathan Simpkin said after the win.
Box Hill took a while to get into the game with Footscray gaining a 13-point lead at quarter time, after leading 26-0 in the early stages of the term.
“They came out a lot harder than us early on and got their hands on the footy. At the 20-minute mark we turned that around and began winning more of the footy,” said Simpkin.
“At quarter time the message was to put the start behind us and play like we know we can.”
From the beginning of the second quarter until the final siren the Hawks claimed control of the game.
Simpkin finished with 37 disposals including a goal, impacting hugely on the win.
Teammate Dallas Willsmore was also a standout across the field, racking up 18 disposals and kicking five goals for the Hawks.
Jed Anderson returned from a hamstring injury to also be among the Hawks' best, alongside Billy Hartung, Tim O'Brien and Brendan Whitecross.
The Hawks played an unselfish brand of footy, sharing the ball around to finish with 12 individual goal kickers.
Box Hill's preliminary final opponent will be decided in next week's semi-final's clash, which will feature the winner out of Collingwood and the loser of today's qualifying final, which will be either Williamstown or Sandringham.
SCORES
BOX HILL HAWKS 2.2 8.5 15.7 18.12 (120)
FOOTSCRAY 4.3 5.4 9.7 12.8 (80)
Goals: Willsmore 5, Grimley 2, Ceglar 2, Schoenmakers, Anderson, Whitecross, Simpkin, O’Brien, Tatupu, Lock, Lawlor, Iles
Best: Willsmore, Hartung, Anderson, Simpkin, Whitecross, O’Brien
