The Box Hill Hawks will go into their second bye of the VFL season in winning touch, having accounted for the ninth-placed Richmond at Punt Road Oval on Saturday afternoon.

The 37-point win keeps the Hawks firmly in the hunt for a top-four berth and, just as importantly, in the mix for the top-six finish which will guarantee finals action.

As important as the result is – and as impressive as the performance was at times – Box Hill had to work hard to see off their hosts, grappling with the loss of key personnel after half-time to not only win the match but do so while winning the half short-handed.

The Hawks knew returning key forward Mitch Lewis was on managed minutes and would sit out the second half, but lost Max Ramsden to an ankle injury and Ed Phillips to a hamstring in the shadows of the long break.

But it wasn’t enough to derail a professional and well-drilled Box Hill outfit which finished +126 for total disposals and +68 in marks – two stats that illustrate and underline the Hawks’ ability to control both the ball and how the game was played. 

The boys in brown and gold comprised the top five disposal winners on the ground – Harry Morrison (34), Seamus Mitchell (34), Josh Ward (33), Henry Hustwaite (32) and Finn Maginness (31) – and top 10 rated players on the ground to boot.

You could make a case that the Hawks set up the wire-to-wire victory inside the opening 10 minutes when a pair of goals from Jasper Scaife and one from the right foot of Mitch Lewis handed the visitors the perfect start.

A fourth unanswered major arrived following a period in which both sides cancelled each other out – and it was provided by a popular source. Gippsland Power and Drouin product Seb Amoroso dribbled through a classy goal on debut to hand his side a 22-point advantage at quarter time. 

When play got back underway in the second quarter it was the Tigers who slowly but surely got the game on their terms, booting the first two goals of the frame to get within 10 points, but again the Hawks rallied and again they kept Richmond at arm's length.

Josh Bennetts booted his first and Jasper Scaife his third to ensure Box Hill won the quarter by a solitary point and headed to the main break 23 points to the good.

Come the third term the Tigers played arguably their best football of the contest, but for the return of just 2.5. Without Lewis, Ramsden and Phillips the Hawks were forced to dig in and dig deep to keep their hosts at bay. 

When chances came at the other end of the field it was versatile swingman Jaylon Thorpe who kicked an important goal to maintain the Hawks’ four-goal advantage before Daniel Wood traded defence for attack to kick two timely goals to ensure Box Hill again narrowly won the quarter.

Captain Cal Porter handed his side the ideal start to the final term when he found space inside 50, marked and kicked truly after three minutes before Richmond’s Jacob Bauer kicked truly to give his side an interest four minutes later.

Josh Ward capped a fine individual display with a superb finish on the run from just inside 50, before Porter kicked a second for the quarter mere minutes later to underline his own excellent performance. 

By the time Bennetts added a second of his own the Hawks’ lead was out to an even seven goals and the result was all but confirmed.

Richmond found time for one more goal, but the Hawks couldn’t and wouldn’t be denied by that point, claiming a hard-fought and deserved 37-point win.

Ward was named his side’s best player on the day on the back of a composed and mature performance that returned 33 touches, 10 marks, four inside 50s, four rebound 50s and, of course, a crucial final quarter goal.

Josh Bennetts was at his creative and busy best across half-forward, popping up to kick two goals and tally 21 touches and eight marks, waxing well with his teammates in midfield to link that part of the ground with the forward 50, while looking dangerous at the feet of his tall teammates when deployed a touch deeper.

Seamus Mitchell made a strong case to be elevated to the Hawks’ senior set-up following just one week with Box Hill, recording game-high marks in disposals (34), marks (14) and rebound 50s (9). ‘Shammy’ was sensational in repelling and setting up attacks all afternoon, playing an assured hand across half-back.

Mitchell’s efforts were ably supported by Harry Morrison, who backed up a best-afield display last weekend with yet another strong showing this. Morrison had as many disposals as Mitchell (34), while taking nine marks, winning two clearances, having three inside 50s, seven rebound 50s and laying three tackles in a complete performance.

Henry Hustwaite was another to put his hand up for selection following the Club-wide bye, finishing his day’s work with an equal game-high nine clearances, 32 touches – 16 of which were contested – five inside 50s and six tackles. His work inside the contest was a particular highlight, with his 21 handballs releasing the ball from congestion and teammates time and again.

Lastly among the Hawks’ best players was Finn Maginness. The big-bodied, hard-running midfielder was integral inside the contest and on the spread all afternoon, winning 31 touches, taking five marks and laying six tackles to help his side from the first siren to last.

Elsewhere Jasper Scaife showed promise with three goals and seven marks from 14 touches, while Cal Porter’s two goals came from 20 disposals and included four tackles. 

In the defensive half, Jai Serong pulled in 11 marks and had 18 possessions, while Bailey Macdonald returned to the side and took 10 himself while finishing with 17 touches.

The Box Hill Hawks return to action in a fortnight’s time, welcoming Port Melbourne to Box Hill City Oval on Saturday 29 June.  

Best: Ward, Bennetts, Mitchell, Morrison, Hustwaite, Maginness

Goals: Scaife 3, Wood, Porter, Bennetts 2, Ward, Thorpe, Lewis, Amoroso

Disposals: Morrison 34, Mitchell 34, Ward 33, Hustwaite 32, Maginness 31, Bennetts 21, Porter 20