The Box Hill Hawks were made to rue a slow start and a sloppy finish in their Round 16 loss to Southport at Fankhauser Reserve on Saturday, ultimately succumbing to the Sharks by 53 points on a disappointing day.

The result sees the Hawks drop to sixth on the ladder and extend their winless run in Queensland to four, while Southport have leapt into the competition’s top four with four games to play.

Having conceded the fast start – the Sharks kicked the opening four goals of the afternoon inside 10 minutes – Box Hill recovered somewhat in the second and third quarters to twice get within 21 points, but could never manufacture the all-important next goal.

Southport kicked 11 of their 16 goals in the bookend quarters to set the day up and, as if to illustrate how important those periods were and how even the contest might’ve been, the hosts would win the second and third terms 5.8 to 5.6.

Trailing by 25-points early in the first term it was Ned Reeves who kicked his side’s first major of the afternoon, marking a Jai Serong kick on the goal line and converting his set shot. 

Hopes this might kickstart a comeback weren’t to be, as the Sharks kicked the next three to take the lead out to 40 points. Daniel Wood kicked his 11th goal of a promising debut season in the VFL to give his side an interest, before Southport’s Jacob Heron’s first of the day snatched the initiative right back. 

Jack O’Sullivan showed great poise and awareness to read the ball in flight and off hands best to dribble his first of the day as the second term ticked into time on, but further opportunities to chip away at the Sharks’ five-goal lead sailed narrowly wide to take the teams to the long break separated by 33-points.

Goals to Cal Porter and Andreas Stefanakis drew the Hawks to within 21 points at the 11-minute mark of the third term, but it was as close as they’d get.

Brayden Crossley put the brakes on the brown and gold comeback with a vital goal, before Stefanakis’ second briefly gave the visitors hope they could get to the last change inside four goals. 

A late Matt Shannon major arrived at precisely the wrong time and ensured Box Hill would need five goals minimum to stage the unlikeliest of wins.

The Hawks kept pressing once the last quarter began, producing three of the first four chances of the term. However, as had been the case for most of the afternoon it was Southport who made the better of their opportunities. While Box Hill could produce just 0.2 from their three shots, the Sharks nailed theirs. 

Goals at the 13, 17 and 19-minute marks saw the hosts end the game as a contest and confirmed the result once and for all.

Denver Grainger-Barras was swung forward and kicked a rare goal, before Southport’s Matt Shannon and Jacob Heron each nailed their second six-pointers of the day to close things out.  

While the Hawks finished the day -43 in total disposals, they lost the inside 50 count by just one, won the stoppage count by two and laid six more tackles. But it was the Sharks’ ability to control the ball and length of the field via uncontested marks which proved decisive. 

Come the final siren Southport were +65 for total marks, illustrating their work rate, spread and discipline in possession.

On a day with few clear winners, Jai Serong was named the Hawks’ best player for a strong showing in a defence which was under siege from the off. Serong tallied 23 possessions, laid five tackles, took an equal-team-high seven marks and used the ball cleanly as he sought to keep the Sharks at bay.

Josh Bennetts was lively throughout and finished with a team-high eight score involvements among his 22 touches, while also working hard to cover the ground and take seven marks. In what was an “almost” day for so many of his teammates, Bennetts also kicked two behinds.

Playing alongside his brother Ned for the first time in their careers, Finn Maginness was another to be recognised by his coaches for a fine individual performance. The hard-running midfielder finished with a team-high 28 disposals, while his younger brother had 11.

The Hawks’ only multiple goal kicker on the day was Andreas Stefanakis, with the small forward working tirelessly to apply pressure and create chances for himself and his teammates.

Cal Porter was reliable as always, finishing his day’s work with 20 touches, five clearances, a goal, a game-high 10 tackles and a team-high six inside 50s.

Lastly among Box Hill’s best was the returning Seamus Mitchell. Like Porter, Mitchell won 20 touches and provided run and dare out of half-back as often as the opportunity presented. 

The Hawks return to action next Saturday afternoon at Arden Street. 

Best: Serong, Bennetts, F Maginness, Stefanakis, Porter, Mitchell

Goals: Stefanakis 2, Wood, Reeves, Porter, O’Sullivan, Grainger-Barras

Disposals: F Maginness 28, Hustwaite 25, Serong 23, Ed Phillips 22, Bennetts 22, Porter 20, Mitchell 20