Box Hill’s season is back on track following a 4.11 (35) to 1.2 (8) win over the Darebin Falcons at Preston City Oval on Saturday.

Coming into the game with a young side including four Eastern Ranges products, the Hawks stood up to the test and held their own.

All four Ranges talents had positive moments throughout the game, with Alyssia Pisano lighting up the forward line, Laura Stone dominating the midfield, Jess Vukic standing tall in the ruck and Ava Campbell showing general class around the ground.

Another highlight of Box Hill’s performance was Drew Ryan’s display, with the young Bendigo Pioneers product showing poise with ball in hand.

Check out how the game unfolded below.

Q1

The new-look Box Hill midfield stood tall right from the get-go, with Drew Ryan leading the way. The Bendigo Pioneers product was the leading disposal-getter to quarter-time with nine, while young Ranges ruck Jess Vukic held her own, and Laura Stone looked classy around stoppages. Down forward, it was fellow young gun Alyssia Pisano that got the Hawks going, playing on from a Maddie Boyd free kick to run into an open goal. The Falcons competed well but it was Boyd who again won a free kick in perhaps an ominous sign of what her opponent was in for during the game. The Hawks forward made no mistake from pretty much straight in front from about 25 metres out, giving her team a one-goal lead at quarter-time.

Q2

It was Charlotte Hammans who sparked the Hawks to life this term with a ripping goal from the pocket. With the ball in dispute, Hammans picked it up cleanly despite the wet conditions and snapped truly in what would be her second goal for the season, and her second in as many weeks. The Hawks also continued to dominate around the ball, with the top seven disposal-getters on the ground all wearing brown and gold. Ryan’s name again featured at the top of the tally with 13 while Matilda Van Berkel started to work her way into the game off half-back with 11. In fact, Box Hill’s entire defence looked strong, with Cassie Davidson continuing to clear the footy and Ellie McLinden highlighting her run and carry. By half-time, the Hawks held a 13-point lead.

Q3

The third term started with a bang thanks to a Mietta Kendall goal within the first 30 seconds of the half. Kendall got on the end of a blistering centre clearance to spin around their opponent and slot through Box Hill’s fourth major of the game. The Hawks struggled to get on the scoreboard from there though, scoring four behinds for the quarter. However, there were still promising signs across all three lines with Ryan and Van Berkel continuing to go to work and of course Kendall getting themselves involved in the contest, leading the tackle count with five to three-quarter-time. At the last break, the Hawks led by 23 points.

Q4

Fatigue seemed to set in during the final term, as neither team was able to put a major on the board. However, the Hawks kept working hard around the contest and controlled the footy through the likes of experienced heads Grace McRae and Nicole Garner. The young guns also continued to impress, including AFLW defender Laura Elliott, who again looked good running through the midfield in just her second week of playing in that position. In the end, it was a complete performance from the Hawks who could’ve won by more had it not been for inaccuracy. Overall, Cherie O’Neill’s side took home a 27-point win back to the other City Oval, where Essendon awaits next Saturday.  

Goals: Pisano, Boyd, Hammans, Kendall

Disposals: Van Berkel 20, Stone 18, Boyd 17, Garner 17, McLinden 17, Ryan 16