Box Hill has secured a spot in the 2023 VFLW finals series with a 17-point victory over the Southern Saints at Box Hill City Oval.

In wet and miserable conditions, the Hawks put on a great defensive performance to hold the Saints scoreless while persevering on the scoreboard themselves. 

On and off rain made conditions difficult in the opening stages of the game. 

The Saints got on the board first courtesy of a behind before the Hawks got the ball forward and into the hands of debutant, Molly Simpson. 

Simpson, who was making her VFLW debut in place of the AFLW-elevated Maddie Boyd, made no mistake from distance and got Box Hill’s first score on the board.

Scoring dried up in the second and third terms due to the continued heavy rain at Box Hill City Oval, but the likes of Grace McRae, Akayla Peterson and Nadia von Bertouch worked hard to find the footy. 

The Hawks increased their intensity in the second half of the third quarter with more inside 50s. 

It was then Abbey Holmes who put through Box Bill’s second of the day, running out the back of the pack to slot through her second major in as many games. 

The Hawks knew the Saints would come out firing in the fourth quarter but it was Bella Gray who saved the day in defence.

She finished with a game-high 17 disposals in one of her best performances of the season.

Jade Wise then put the icing on the cake up forward, kicking her fourth goal in her third game of the season. 

The win sees the Hawks finish fourth on the VFLW ladder with eight wins, four losses and two draws. 

Box Hill is slated to face Essendon in a VFLW elimination final at Box Hill City Oval on Saturday at 11am AEST. 

Goals: Holmes, Simpson, Wise 

Disposals: Gray 18, Mifsud 18, Van Berkel 18, McRae 17, Peterson 17, Thorne 15