Box Hill continued its winning ways on the weekend taking home a five-point win against North Melbourne, which saw several senior-listed players hit the scoreboard.
Small forward Sam Butler kicked two, while Harry Morrison, Henry Hustwaite, Jacob Koschitzke, Josh Morris and Ned Long were the other names to feature with a goal.
Jai Serong (22 disposals), Lachy Bramble (24 disposals), Cam MacKenzie (22 disposals), Bailey McDonald (22 disposals) and Cooper Stephens (21 disposals) were also all busy.
Emerson Jeka was strong in the air, taking eight marks to go with 15 disposals, while category B rookie Josh Bennetts took seven marks and had 14 disposals but was unlucky in front of the big sticks.
Speaking post-game, Coach Zane Littlejohn said his group produced a "nice and proud performance".
"They were challenged early in the game, we didn't start how we would've liked to. North got the jump on us and we were a bit slow out of the blocks, which was disappointing," Littlejohn said.
"Full credit to our guys who responded and could find a way to wrestle a bit of momentum back before quarter time.
"It was nice to come away with the win, we were behind all day and kicked the last four goals of the game. It was a great reward for effort, but we've still got a lot of learnings to take away from the game."
Littlejohn has provided his review of each AFL listed Hawk below.
Harry Morrison (24 disposals, 5 marks, 1 goal)
"When we've played our best footy, Brambs and Harry have had the ball in hand and were able to help calm the game down. Harry was able to change angles for us and give us some good looks coming out of our backend and off the wing as well. He was just as we know he was super composed. He had some good contest moments as well and kicked a really vital goal in the last quarter, which was really impressive and important to give us the confidence to go on and win the game."
Lachy Bramble (24 disposals, 7 marks)
"It was a really good performance from Lachy, he is one of the real drivers around our Hawks ball. He's really composed with the ball in hand at times. One thing that really impressed me was his contest work. He had some really good one-on-one contests where he didn't necessarily win the ball, but he was able to halve the contest. He was a real leader in that area of the game. He finished with 24 disposals and seven uncontested marks so his work rate was strong. He spent some time across half back and on the wing, so he was really versatile player for us and was able to execute well and turn up in the big moments that we needed him to, which was pleasing. We saw some real speed and an ability to drive legs out of the contest and take the game on."
Changkuoth Jiath (10 disposals, 4 marks)
"CJ started the game house on fire, he was really impressive. It was really positive how he started, he played on the wing and spent a little bit of time down back. But then he just had a little niggle and lost a little bit of power with his running. He reported to our medical team at half time that he was feeling some groin pain, unrelated to his achilles, which we then closely monitored into the third quarter and the decision was taken to remove him from the game as his symptoms didn’t improve. It’s incredibly frustrating for him after fully training this week. We’ll have an update during the week.”
Jacob Koschitzke (8 disposals, 1 goal, 8 hit-outs)
"You look at Kosi's numbers and you might think, what is he doing? But he played key back and second ruck, which isn't easy to do. He got the job done for us. After half time we moved him forward and he second rucked. He went up against Todd Goldstein who isn't an easy match up, his played 300 AFL games, he's a quality player. Kosi competed really well and was able to get around the ground and challenge their rucks and their talls at times. He took a really crucial contested mark in the third. He took some steps forward I thought this week, his attitude, and the way he approached the game was super impressive. He brought in to the fight, although his numbers aren't what he likes them to be I thought he played a crucial role."
Cam Mackenzie (21 disposals, 4 marks)
"It was a quieter first half for Cam, but he really worked his way into the game in the second half. We allowed him to go forward a little bit in the second half and he showed some great speed, power and work rate. His ability to get out of traffic with his footwork was a real highlight. He's played on some quality players, it was a great exposure for him to play inside and attend a lot of centre bounces. He is testing himself against AFL players which is really good and he'll continue to work on his clearance work and stuff around the contest. When he's got the ball, good things happen."
Sam Butler (2 goals, 17 disposals, 5 marks)
"He could've had a really, really nice day. He had 17 disposals and kicked 2.3, but the thing that really impressed me was when we were getting challenged in the first quarter, I thought he was the one that got us back into the game. He had some huge contest moments when we needed someone to step up and kicked two vital goals to get us going. Arguably, he should've finished with five or six goals in the end. He's having shots which is pleasing, now he has just got to execute more consistently in front of goal. But it was a really pleasing game and one that should give him confidence moving into the backend of the season."
Jai Serong (22 disposals, 8 marks)
"Jai played back again. He didn't necessarily have a match-up this week, but had to play different roles and slide across and he did it really well. We're really impressed with how Jai's going as a defender. The beauty with Jai is his aerial contest, but then he is also able to get involved at ground level and involved in Hawks ball. He had 22 disposals at 86 per cent efficiency, five score involvements, two contested marks - that's a really solid sign as a defender. He was really impressive. Without Damian Mascitti out there I put it on all our defenders to show some leadership this week, and Jai was one of those. He was really valuable in helping us get set up behind the ball. It was another step forward for Jai in that position."
Bailey Macdonald (22 disposals)
"Bailey was back to his best. He had some really great explosive moments where he was able to take grass. But what we're now seeing more with Bailey is his ability to use his speed in the back end, and not just offence. That makes him a really complete defender for us when he was able to do that. He was able to find the footy this week, and helped a lot of our ball movement from the backend. It's good to see him get back into the positive for his performance. He should be really proud about this game. Like all our players, it's about being consistent now and showing some continuity in their performance. He's an exciting player when he is able to use his weapons and we saw that on Sunday."
Ned Long (22 disposals, 1 goal, 6 marks, 4 tackles, 6 clearances)
"It was a super game from Longy in regards to work rate and effort. He started the game slowly, but then found his way. He played on Hugh Greenwood who has played some AFL, but I thought he wrestled momentum back after the start of the game. He had four tackles, six clearances and 22 disposals, six score involvements and kicked a crucial last quarter goal as well from stoppage which was great. As we know with Longy, he was a real driver. We lost contested ball post in the first quarter and that was where the game was being played and Longy was the real driver in helping us wrestle that momentum back contest-to-contest and put in a really nice performance. He is showing some really nice signs. If he continues to show continuity now and grow his performances."
Emerson Jeka (15 disposals, 8 marks, 3 tackles)
"Jeks was again a little bit quiet in the first half, but his second half was impressive, particularly his third quarter. He was arguably our best player on the ground in the third quarter. His positioning, his contest, ball use - everything hit the marker. He had three tackles, 15 disposals, but more importantly eight marks including a big contested one. He had to play a little bit taller in the second half, him and Serong were our key defenders. I thought Jeks relished in that opportunity and took it with both hands. He showed that he has some great attributes to be a defender, which is pleasing for us."
Josh Morris (5 disposals)
"Josh made his return and started forward and moved back in the second half. His attitude and application was great, he just run out of a bit of steam as you do when you haven't played footy for a couple weeks. He kicked the first goal of the game for us after North started the game well. We needed someone to halt their momentum and our players were able to build a bit of confidence off that. When he went back, he was able to step up and lead alongside Bramble, Morrison and Serong. It was a nice return for Josh. Now it's about him getting a bit of continuity before hopefully Box Hill can play some finals footy."
Cooper Stephens (21 disposals, 6 marks, 4 clearances)
"Coop keeps growing in the role that we have him playing at the moment, playing a little bit forward, a little bit on ball, showing great leadership. Six score involvement's, six clearances, some really tough moments too. He had some skill execution errors, but what I love about Coop is his ability to nfollow up. To get back up and go to the next contest, which is the most important thing. He didn't stop and dwell on a mistake, he was really quick to move on. In the last quarter that was really important because we needed some big moment and he was able to step up at times and show that. Another really good performance from him and the role he is playing for our footy club."
Henry Hustwaite (16 disposals, 5 marks, 1 goal)
"Hus was solid around the contest. His hands and ability to see through traffic is getting better. It's great for him to be able to spend time on players like Greenwood, who's a big-bodied mid and the type of player he's going to have to play on when he plays AFL. The thing for Hus that we've got to keep working on is his ability to get from contest-to-contest and continue to make sure he doesn't collapse and lose balance around the contest when it's not his turn as he can at times lose our shape on the outside. He's aware of that and he's working really hard with our coaches and continue to improve that area of his game. He kicked an important goal for us in the third quarter for us, it's nice to see him hit the scoreboard. His projectory is really good, he's on the right path."
Josh Bennetts (14 disposals, 7 marks)
"Josh could've had a great day. He had seven score involvements, 14 disposals and kicked three points. He understands now the work rate required to play I think at the VFL level, but is moving on the way to understanding AFL work rate consistently. He is starting to come really consistent now. His work rate, high speed running and ability to turn up is really impressive. If he turns those three points into three goals it turns out to be a really solid day."
Brandon Ryan (1 goal, 12 disposals, 8 marks)
"Brandon kicked 1.1, but gave Kosi a goal in the second quarter, took some really crucial marks - including three contested - when we needed someone to step up. You look at his numbers and maybe thin he hasn't had a great day, but for a key forward I thought he gave us a key target in front and some good contests. He could've kicked two, he gave a couple off himself. But as a key forward he has done what we needed him to do in crucial times. He's learnt our structure and system now, he's turning up into better spots and that allowed him to get to more contests. He's got some raw talent."
Clay Tucker (12 hit-outs, 5 disposals)
"Tuck returned and he had a great day. He played as our number one ruck for the day against Goldstein. That will be a great learning game for Tuck, to have come up against a 300-gamer. He'll sit down with David Hale and review his tape about the learnings he'll take from that. He held his own and he competed really well. He is a mid-season draftee, an 18-year-old kid, but I was really impressed with his effort. He didn't get down on himself, he continued to go to the next contest. We challenged him to work his backside off and run with Goldstein who arguably made his career about how he covered the ground as a ruck. Goldstein had an influence there is no doubt, but Tuck needs to hold his head high and be proud. He should grow some confidence from it."
Some further Box Hill shout-outs for this week...
Max Hall
"We call Max the ice man. He took a really important contested mark late in the last quarter and went back to kick a goal. Him, Butler and Bennetts all really helped to connect our backend. Max had some big moments in the second half. He finished with 19 touches, seven score involvements and kicked 1.1."
Ed Phillips
"Ed has been pretty reliable all year for us on the wing, he turns up and is a very smart footballer. He finished with 23 disposals at 74 per cent efficiency. He's been involved in some important plays. Attitude-wise, he is very reliable in the role that he plays for our program. He helps the AFL boys who are around us to get better, which is important."