The Box Hill Hawks claimed a vital four points on Sunday afternoon, accounting for fellow top-four aspirants Williamstown to move into outright fifth on the VFL ladder – just half a game back of the second-placed Geelong.

The 22-point win leaves the Hawks two games and percentage inside the competition’s top 10 with just two games to play. Bearing in mind that the teams who finish seventh to tenth play off in the wildcard rounds.

On a day of high stakes football Box Hill started the better, established an advantage, withstood a spirited Seagulls fightback late in the third and closed the contest out with a professional final quarter display.

The Hawks finished the match-up +64 in total disposals, +10 in inside 50s, +18 in clearances, +63 in marks and +6 in tackles. And while Williamstown rallied to get within a kick at three quarter time, Box Hill never trailed after opening the scoring inside 20 seconds of the first bounce. 

Harry Morrison was excellent throughout the must-win contest, finishing as the highest rated and consensus best player on the ground. His stat line included a game high 33 disposals and 11 score involvements, a team-high three goals, seven marks and nine clearances.

‘H’ was simply superb in all phases of the game. Clean and decisive inside the contest, dangerous on the spread and, importantly,  a dead eye when the time came to kick goals – his three majors arrived at crucial times in the first, third and fourth quarters.

Fellow on-baller Cam Mackenzie marked his first VFL game of 2024 with a standout display, following in the recent footsteps of fellow top-10 draftee Josh Ward in using the VFL as a springboard back into the senior side.

Frenchie’s 29 touches was bettered only by Morrison, while he lead all-comers on the ground with 10 clearances. He rounded out a sensational showing with seven score involvements and four marks, winning praise from his coach for the way he got himself and his team started in the early going.

Big man Max Ramsden finished his afternoon with 15 touches, six marks, four tackles, two clearances and a goal, rucking in tandem with Clay Tucker to blunt the impact of Williamstown’s Tom Downie – potentially the premier ruckman in the VFL competition. Like Tucker, Ramsden’s 2024 season continues to impress. 

Jake Arundell’s second match back since re-joining the Hawks stressed why Zane Littlejohn and the Club were so keen reintegrate him into the brown and gold. “Snake” tallied 22 disposals, took 10 marks, produced a team-high six inside 50s and kicked two impressive goals – including the sealer – to propel his side to victory. 

Key back Jai Serong was another to impress again, winning plenty of the ball, using it well and marking brilliantly all afternoon. Serong’s 144 ranking points were good enough for second best on the ground, while his 13 marks trails just Ethan Phillips’ 15. There’s little doubt his stellar run of form would have him in calculations for a 10th senior game in the not too distant future.

Lastly among the Hawks’ best was half-back flyer Bailey Macdonald. B-Mac’s 23 touches were full of his trademark dare, dash and flair, with his run and carry integral to creating Morrison’s third early in the last. Macdonald has put together a solid 2024 campaign and looks well-placed to impact as Box Hill approach yet another September campaign. 

Box Hill’s win was set-up in part by a strong start to the day and a resolute response when challenged. The opening 15 minutes of the contest were played near exclusively in the Hawks’ front half, with goals to Morrison and Tucker handing the hosts a well-earned 15-point lead before the Seagulls seriously threatened.

Brodie McLaughlin gave his side an interest late on with their opening major of the day, but Cooper Stephens and Seamus Mitchell combined to lace out the leading Arundell, who’s set shot from the pocket couldn’t have been more perfect.

Corey Ellison kicked back-to-back majors inside five minutes to get a renewed Williamstown within three-points when play resumed, but the visitors’ best spell of the half was cancelled out by three Box Hill goals in the next 14-minutes – two from Jasper Scaife and a rare goal from Stu Horner, who was playing forward for the day – handed the side a 22-point lead entering time on.

Jack O’Sullivan’s first of the day just five minutes later threatened to break the game open, with the Hawks sitting 27-points to the good half-way from home. 

Back-to-back six-pointers from Ramsden and Morrison were the perfect start to the second half, but slowly but surely the Seagulls began to put together a run. A goal to Nick Ebinger gave Williamstown the faintest sniff, before they truly made their run at an incredible comeback.

With the breeze at their backs,Justin Plapp’s charges kicked goals at the 24, 25, 27 and 34 minute marks to pull within a single kick at the last change.

Needing to respond and needing that response quickly, Box Hill started the final term in perfect fashion via goals from Kye Agosta and Morrison, before Corey Ellison’s sixth kept his side in the contest.

The following eight minutes played out in cagey fashion, as the Hawks tried not to leave themselves exposed and the Seagulls pressed without allowing the knock-out blow.

But that blow arrived from a stoppage deep inside attacking 50, where Arundell swooped onto a deft palm down from Ramsden to snap a textbook poachers goal.

Noah Gadsby got one back for Williamstown with five minutes to play to give his side one last chance. But the great escape wasn’t to be, as Tucker marked well and kicked truly to ice the game.

Box Hill return to action next Sunday morning against GWS at the Blacktown International Sports Complex. 

Best: Morrison, Mackenzie, Ramsden, Arundell, Serong, Macdonald

Goals: Morrison 3, Tucker, Scaife, Arundell 2, Ramsden, O’Sullivan, Horner, Agosta 

Disposals: Morrison 33, Mackenzie 29, Serong 28, Hustwaite 24, Macdonald 23, Arundell 22