Box Hill Senior Coach Zane Littlejohn breaks down every Hawthorn-listed player's Round 14 VFL performance following the Hawks' narrow loss to Port Melbourne.

Henry Hustwaite

"Hus had a really solid day. He found the footy and finished as our leading possession getter with 34 disposals, 12 tackles and seven clearances. Arguably could have had a few more clearances if he was a bit cleaner around contest. I think the biggest learning for Henry on the day was finding the balance when he could shape and use his hands versus when he needed to take the tag through. As we know, Henry’s real weapon is his ability to use his hands in congestion, but at times, when the opposition is applying great pressure like Port Melbourne did (and the compounded by the wetter conditions), just knowing when to take territory would be more important. Good return from Henry to find the footy, but still some areas of growth in his game, which is really exciting."

Josh Ward

"Really nice balanced game from Wardy. He’s finished with 29 touches, nine tackles and eight clearances and played a really tough game, which is really pleasing for Wardy. He had his six score involvements and was able to hit the scoreboard as well, and arguably should have finished with two or three goals. He was able to find the footy on the outside, as well as be tough on the inside, so a really solid game from Wardy."

Jai Serong

"He played a mixture of roles, deep defender and high defender for most of the day. He was just reliable in his performance. But he did have some moments I’m sure he would like again, along with some moments that were really solid. And without him, arguably they would have scored a lot more."

Seamus Mitchell

"Again, a similar to Jai – he had some moments that were really good and really helped us defensively and offensively – but he also had some moments, in particular, skill errors that he would like to have again. But overall, just a reliable performance without being outstanding. Really solid in his defence and a leader down there as well, which we’re seeing real growth in his game in that area as well."

Ethan Phillips

"Against his old side, and the return after having six weeks out of playing footy, he was solid. It is never easy coming up against your old side, they know your ins and outs. Still, he held his own and competed really well. He had some moments, like almost everyone on the day, that he would like to have again, but had some moments where he was really solid and held us up really strongly. His leadership and communication in our back end is really vital in getting us organise and set up."

Max Ramsden

"Rama was arguably the best big man on the ground across the day, finishing with 48 hitouts, kicked a goal, seven clearances and six tackles. It was a really solid day from Rama. Probably the biggest growth in his game is giving away some free kicks in making contests that he didn’t need to give away and he will look at those and hone his craft on how he can make sure he’s not giving those away, but ultimately getting himself in better positions, so he’s getting the free kick or winning the ball."

Cooper Stephens

"Great to see Cooper return. He played a half and was really lively. He finished with 13 disposals and two clearances. Was really lively, four tackles and played a mixture of forward and midfield. So, his loads will slowly start to increase in game time and he’s pulled up really well which is really exciting. Hopefully we can see Coop get back to his absolute best. So great to see him back out there and have an influence on the game. I think when he came on at half time he had a real buzz about him and helped influence the game."

Bailey Macdonald

"Just an OK day for Baz. Obviously, Baz and us have higher expectations of his performance. So, we continue to work closely with him to free him up. Not a great day for running bounces or anything like that, but he still had moments where he was attacking and some moments where he was really solid in team defence. He just needs to find the balance of when the game is not going how he would like it, how can he have an influence on the game. Still, he was solid enough to have a contribution across the day."

Denver Grainger-Barras

"Denver had some really good moments, but also some moments that weren’t at the level and weren’t satisfying enough regarding discipline and giving away some free kicks and 50-metre penalties, which we just can’t accept. He knows that and is working really hard so that those areas of his game get deleted quickly, because ultimately, they are costing him playing really solid footy. Because he footy is good enough, but he is costing himself with some silly little decisions that he is making. I thought overall he defended really well at times; he’s got to get used to working with Jai Serong and Ethan Phillips and having some other key defenders around him so they can be on the same page."

Bodie Ryan

"A quieter day for Bodes. He spent some time on a wing and some time across half back. He ultimately thought he was overthinking the game a little bit with the conditions and the role that he was playing rather than just letting his football do the talking. So we will look to Bodie to bounce back this week and hopefully we see a better performance. Still, with his first year in the system and what we are seeing overall, as Hawthorn/Box Hill fans, we should be really excited."

Josh Bennetts

"A quieter day from Joshy, he’s not had his usual output. Only finished with eight disposals and three tackles, still kicked a goal and had three score involvements. And his GPS work rate was really high, but just didn’t get the rewards. So we will look at the tape and he will work really closely with Arryn Siposs to review that. When the game is played like that, he needs to learn how he can still have more of an influence on the game. It wasn’t played exactly how he would like it, but how can he impact the game as a small forward in those moments with his pressure and positioning. So some great learning from him to take away from that game."

Jack O’Sullivan

"It was great to have Jack back. Sort of played two-and-a-bit quarters, which was great, just to manage him back into the game. Was good to see him get up around the footy a bit and also play a bit deeper close to goal. Ultimately, it was just for Jack to get back out playing footy, we didn’t want to put too much pressure and wanted him to enjoy be back playing and getting through safely – and that’s what he’s done. He’s got through really well, had some influence on the game, had some moments which no doubt he’d like to have again, but we love Jack and the energy he can bring, his speed, his power and his pressure. When that is up, he’s playing his best footy. He will look to build that back up the more minutes he plays in the coming weeks."

Mitch Lewis

"Great to have him out there again. His leadership that he provides this group is immense. He’s a premiership player at our footy club, so we love having him out there, but also want to help him get back to playing some AFL footy as soon as possible. Not a great day for key forwards, but he still had an influence on the game in other ways, like his ability to give a contest long down the line, and also when he got his opportunity, he finished his work. Arguably he got us going and back in the game in that second quarter with two vital goals. Two contested marks in those conditions is a great return. And he should be really happy with his return. Ultimately, how he pulls up is important as well. Which from all reports has been positive."

Jasper Scaife

"Same as Mitch, not a great day for key forwards. But Jasper had an influence later in the game, in the second half when we started to play him a little bit higher. He probably got caught a little deep early and wasn’t able to have a natural influence. He kicked a beautiful goal in the third quarter to really spark us and get our energy up and going. Finished with seven disposals and kicked his two goals. But just the one mark, which is an area he’d like to improve on. And just the one tackle, so just bringing that side of his game when he’s not finding the footy with his pressure would be an area that he will look to work on."

Clay Tucker

"Not a great day for talls. Chopped out Rama in the ruck with his 13 hitouts. Just the three disposals, but the role he plays is really vital in our group to give a chop out in the ruck and again not a great day for talls. So again, the growth for players like Tuck in those conditions is how he can have an influence on the game. Is it through just giving a contest, is it anchoring down? Because it is probably not going to be through your marks and possessions. But still really positive from Tuck to give us his role in the ruck and his 13 hitouts."

And this week's Box Hill shout out...

Cal Porter

"Really solid. Went head-to-head with their captain in Harvey Hooper and Ports was able to finish with 10 clearances, had his eight tackles and used it at 76% efficiency. So, in those conditions, that’s not bad. 17 of those disposals were contested. So just a really strong leadership day to get the group back in after a really poor start. I thought he led the really well in that space."

Seb Amoroso

"Just in his second game, kicked his first goal. Provided some real spark and energy within the game when we needed it. And ultimately he’s finished with seven tackles, for a small forward this is what we are talking about in playing your role. It’s not always about possessions, he’s had seven disposals, but those seven tackles and he’s kicked a goal. Sometimes you are not going to get the ball, so how can you impact the game, and he was able to do that defensively, which was really pleasing."