Box Hill has suffered a nine-point loss against North Melbourne at Arden Street Oval on Saturday afternoon.

The Hawks won the inside 50 count (+4) and mark count (+9) but the Kangaroos won other key stats including possession (55-45 per cent), tackles (68-58) and rebound 50s (27-23).

North Melbourne made a fast start with the first two goals of the game.

The Hawks began to regain territory towards the end of the term with Annabelle Embelton and Matilda Van Berkel standing tall to provide repeat inside 50 entries.

It was Cassie Davidson who got rewarded after a great spinning mark and a precise major from directly in front.

While the second half of the quarter was an improvement on the first half, Box Hill still went into the quarter-time break trailing by seven points.

It was a more hard-fought and congested battle to begin the second term with no team able to really gain momentum of the game.

After 10 minutes of gritty football, the Kangaroos broke through for their third and fourth goals of the match in quick succession, leaving the Hawks on the back foot.

Gabby Collingwood was then able to finish off a clean passage of play to get the Hawks within 14 points at half-time.

Box Hill came out of the main break with increased intensity but was unable to put a major in the board, with four behinds to start the third term.

The Hawks’ strong pressure continued throughout the quarter but it was North who was rewarded with two goals in the dying minutes to extend its buffer to 22 points at three-quarter-time.

Knowing they had to leave nothing out there, it was the Hawks who drew first blood in the fourth term.

After Miz Kendall unfortunately scored the team’s fifth straight behind, Grace Matser stood tall to put through the team’s third goal of the day from directly in front, reducing the margin to 15 points.

The Roos then broke Box Hill’s hearts, kicking a dribbler to get in front by 14 points with less than five minutes to go.

Collingwood was able to put through her second late in the match but it ended up being too late, with the Hawks going down by nine points.

They will now turn their attention to Sunday morning at ETU Stadium where reigning premiers Port Melbourne await.

Best: Spamer, Dillon, Matser, Thorne, McLinden, Muir, Collingwood, Butler
Goals: Collingwood 2, Matser, Davidson, Luke 
Disposals: Spamer 16, Dillon 15, Matser 13, Thorne 12, McLinden 12, Muir 11