The Box Hill Hawks’ home and away campaign came to an end on Sunday, with defeat to minor premier Werribee confirming a sixth-placed finish and a meeting with the highest-ranked winner of next weekend’s wildcard round.

Second best for much of the first half, the Hawks trailed by a game-high 35 points early in the third quarter before rallying to trim the margin to 11 points come the final siren.

Sunday’s meeting at Box Hill City Oval was the club’s first encounter since last year’s qualifying final, and played out in much the same way: the Tigers started the better, built on an early lead and held on as the Hawks looked like finishing the stronger.

Seamus Mitchell was adjudged to be his side’s best player, finishing the afternoon with a game-high 38 disposals. “Shammy” worked hard from first siren to last to provide his side with run and impetus out of defence, be a relieving option on the switch and, having booted two goals and provided four inside 50s and contributed six score involvements, posed a threat when within range of goal.

His efforts in defence were ably assisted by key back Ethan Phillips, whose 20 disposals and 14 marks typified a willingness to work and compete, while in the front half, Jake Arundell won 16 disposals, kicked a classy goal and laid seven tackles in yet another impressive display since re-joining the Club a little over a month ago.

Midfielder Josh Ward was another to be recognised among the Hawks’ best players, having compiled 20 touches and won five clearances in a solid display in Box Hill’s engine room, with half-back Bodie Ryan another to acquit himself well across the afternoon. Ryan’s 23 disposals and eight marks were capped off by a fine goal – his first at VFL level – as time expired. 

High-flying forward Jaylon Thorpe was the sixth and final Hawk listed among the best players, working and presenting hard all day to compete, lengthen the field and pressure Werribee’s backs. “Thorpey” kicked two goals from his seven touches and took four marks.

Werribee came into the contest with a league-best 14-and-three record and made quick work of underlining their credentials. The visitors produced the first three goals of the afternoon inside seven minutes to set up their afternoon and the result.

But, as the quarter continued the Hawks began to find their footing. Their best passage of play of the term produced Jaylon Thorpe’s first of the afternoon, before he and Daniel Wood, a late in for Jai Serong on the day, saw half chances sail just wide. 

Having worked their way back into the contest, Box Hill trailed by just 13 points at the first. But, just as they had done to start the match, Werribee produced three goals without reply to open the second term to skip away to a 32-point lead at the 12-minute mark. 

Jake Arundell got one back after working hard into space and stretching the Werribee backline, but any hope a breakthrough goal might lead to another was snuffed out when the Tigers’ Harry Grintell answered just two minutes later.

Seamus Mitchell kicked a superb long-range effort a couple of minutes after, roosting a 65m right footer through the uprights, but, as had happened before, the Tigers quickly found an answering goal to take them to the long break 33 points to the good.

Settled by the half-time team talk, Box Hill returned after the interval in good touch. The hosts kicked back-to-back goals for the first time thanks to Mitchell’s second and Jack O’Sullivan’s clever gather and snap, but again, any hopes a consolidating third might come were snuffed out by Hudson Garoni.

Thirty points behind again, Thorpe and Max Ramsden produced minor scores before Wood and Thorpe kicked truly to reel the margin inside three goals with one to play.

A cagey fourth quarter produced little in the way of chances, but when the crucial opener fell the way of the would-be minor premiers after 10 minutes the Hawks trailed by 21 points and needed to find something special to stage the most improbable and remarkable escape.

Cal Porter gave his side hope when he marked brilliantly deep inside 50 and steered his set shot through, but despite a period of attacking play the home side couldn’t find the all-important next goal quickly enough, as Werribee looked to shut down the game and take time off the clock.

Bodie Ryan snapped his first VFL goal right on full time, as Box Hill fell 11-points short.

The Hawks would tally 30 more disposals and 29 more tackles on the day, but lose clearance by 12 and inside 50s 16 on an afternoon which provided the young Box Hill side with plenty of learnings.

The Box Hill Hawks will return to action in a fortnight’s time, hosting an elimination final against a team and at a time to be determined in due course. 

Best: Mitchell, Phillips, Arundell, Ward, Ryan, Thorpe

Goals: Thorpe, Mitchell 2, Wood, Ryan, Porter, O’Sullivan, Arundell

Disposals: Mitchell 38, Ryan 23, Maginness 22, Hustwaite 22, Ward 20, Phillips 20