The Box Hill Hawks have suffered their second defeat of the season, going down by 26 points to Port Melbourne on Friday night at ETU Stadium.

The Hawks started livelily and looked good through patches of the game but ultimately, the Borough were more consistent and structured, riding all the momentum to see them seal the win in front of their home fans.

Positive signs for the Hawks included Annie Muir’s standout performance in her first game back since her shoulder injury sustained in Round 1, Hawks VFLW debutant Louise Stephenson standing tall in a new role up forward and Kristy Stratton doing Kristy Stratton things in her first game of the season.

On the scoreboard, it was good to see Hawks VFLW stalwarts Jess Trend and Mietta Kendall each kick their first goals of the season.

Check out how the game unfolded below.  

Q1

The intensity of the game was high from the get-go, with both teams applying immense tackling pressure and spreading each other’s defence with ambitious kicks and gut running. After the Borough got the first major on the board, it was Sophie Locke who would snap one through in reply against her old side. Kristy Stratton looked like she had been playing all season while Jordan Mifsud picked up from where she left off last week. At quarter-time, the scores were level at a goal apiece.

Q2

The Hawks got off to an incredibly fast start with the first clearance of the term leading to a Stratton running goal. Matilda Van Berkel continued her incredible start to the season with her rebound defending and aerial smarts. The game also continued to be full of pace but despite Box Hill’s best efforts, Port Melbourne finished the half with a goal in the dying minutes. At the main break, the Hawks found themselves down by three points.

Q3

Coach Cherie O’Neill moved the magnets in the third term, sending AFLW defender Louise Stephenson to the forward line to add some stability and height. Unfortunately, the move didn’t pay off, with the Borough kicking two quick goals to start the quarter. However, in typical Box Hill fashion, the team stood up and withheld the pressure. This ended up in a clever snap through goal for Jess Trend, with the defender kicking her first major of the season. Mietta Kendall also joined the first goal party, running into an open goal to close out the quarter with a bang. Port’s Stella Reid kept the home side in the game with majors on either side of Trend and Kendall’s goals, leaving Box Hill 10 points down heading into a highly anticipated final term.

Q4

Port Melbourne continued on its merry way in the final term, riding a wave of momentum that proved unstoppable for the Hawks. Box Hill was held goalless for the term while the Borough piled on two more. Mifsud continued to put in the hard yards while Annie Muir chimed in with some crucial disposals in her first game since Round 1. But in the end, it was the Hawks who went down by 26 points.

Goals: Locke, Stratton, Trend, Kendall

Disposals: Mifsud 20, Muir 15, Trend 15, Matser 14, Smith 14, McRae 13