The Box Hill Hawks started their season with a four-point win over Carlton at IKON Park in the VFL season opener.

VFL Senior Coach Zane Littlejohn said he was pleased with the result and some great learning from the game.

“All in all, rapt to get the result. Some things we need to work on, around our connection going forward and just what we need to do in certain moments, around what the game’s requiring us to do, so we're not fuelling the opposition's fire and allowing them to play the way they want to play,” Littlejohn said.

“So we'll work on that this week and hopefully we see some improvement in that space, but we leave with four points. If you had it said to me, we get four points Round One, and you only win by four points, I would have taken it.”

Henry Hustwaite (30 disposals, 18 contested possessions, 11 clearances)

“A solid game around the footy for Henry finished with the 30 disposals. More importantly, the 11 clearances, was really pleasing, obviously to see him start the season really well around the footy, which we know is his weapon, his hands, and his ability to work within the 20-metre bubble was also really pleasing. So great return for Henry first up”

Seamus Mitchell (20 disposals, nine marks, six intercept possessions)

“Seeing Shammy getting back into a little bit of form is great. Although, he had the 20 (disposals), some of his defensive efforts, which were probably the highlight, and something that we were really pleased with, his ability to come forward and help defend the ground, two contested marks as well, shows he can airily impact the game and also at ground level with his running, carry and that as well, which is great.”

Bailey MacDonald (19 disposals, eight marks, three intercept possessions)

“Bailey McDonald, again, provided a lot of run and dash. We probably didn't use Baz as much as we maybe should have, especially in our offense, and really reward his run. At times, he got burnt a little bit, dare I say, but really pleased to see Baz have an impact offensively in the game and was also quite solid defensively. So good for him to get another run under his belt, played really well and had some valuable moments as well.”

Jai Serong (17 disposals, six marks, four intercept possessions)

“Jai was asked to play as a genuine tall this week and after probably the first five minutes, was really solid. You know, 17 disposals , but defended really, really strongly. They had a couple of talls down there, and Jai gave a few centimetres away, but really gave a great contest, and was able to really impact the game as a defender, which is really pleasing from his perspective. He also had six handball receives, so involved offensively, two contested marks, which is a great reward for him, six rebound 50s, so he's being involved offensively, but also defending the ground really well as well, which is a great return for him.”

Luke Breust (Three goals, 15 disposals, six marks)

“What a great leader and a great person to have involved in our program at Box Hill, his leadership has been outstanding and I guess everyone who knows Punky wouldn't expect anything else. Kicked three really crucial goals, the last three goals ugly we kick for the game. So really important goals as well but then provide great leadership and clarity for guys during the game, but even at breaks, just to have a calm head. His ability to bring pressure to the game as well, and really buying both sides of the ball offensively defensive is really pleasing.”

Max Ramsden (Two goals, 15 disposals, 11 contested possessions)

“Max Ramsden was on track to have an outstanding game, his first quarter and his first half was really strong. Took six contested marks, had the 15 touches, kicked two goals two, quite easily could have been four goals, hit the post on one. So really strong, started him in the ruck this week, and he really challenged his oppo forward as well, by getting forward and really challenging in that space, which is really pleasing. Tired out of the game a little bit, and they obviously put a little bit more attention to him, but a really pleasing return. He's had two pretty strong weeks now in our last practice and then this first game Round One, so finding some good form, he's just got to continue it now and continue to give a great contest in front of the footy when he's there.”

Cody Anderson (14 disposals, six marks, four tackles)

“Cody had some really solid moments, and some moments that we've been working with him on, which is composure with ball in hand but defensively, he was really strong. Anyone who watched the game would have seen his arguably game saving tackle, for holding the ball late in the game, that's what Cody can bring. His ability and willingness to compete is fantastic, he's finished with 14 in his second game for Box Hill when he did play one last year, six inside 50s, one score assist and you know, really involved in that offense, which is great. But more importantly, we're measuring Cody's game on what he can provide defensively and bringing pressure and he's working really hard on that. I thought he did a great job, four tackles, he's working really hard, and it's not just tackles, it's just his ability to chase and be present in the contest, which is great.”

Ned Reeves (22 hitouts, 13 disposals, seven contested possessions)

“So Noodle sort of played 75% just getting him through the game, and was really solid once he came on, gave us great dominance, especially around centre bounce. We won centre bounce quite comfortably, and he was really dominant in that space and really around the whole ground. He nearly was able to take some marks in our D50, and then nearly took a really important mark in our forward 50, didn't quite hold on to it, but provided a great target. So covered the ground really well, looked really damaging and dangerous and we know when he’s up and going, he's going to be really valuable player, not just for Box Hill, but for Hawthorn. So it's great to see him start to get in a bit of form and start to cover the ground really well.”

Noah Mraz (11 disposals, six marks, three intercept possessions)

“What a great first game for the young lad. Was arguably asked to play key post, did a really good job, took some learning and worked really hard on his positioning. He’s worked really hard with Arryn Siposs on his positioning and how he needs to play as a key back and he’s doing a really good job. Really proud of the young boy in his first senior game of footy, I thought he defended and competed really well, which is great. Got caught out a few times, but we're gonna see this with our younger guys and that's okay. And, you know, improvement’s not linear. it's up and down and around and around, and we have moments. But the thing that we love with our young guys is their willingness to want to learn, and Noah’s definitely one of them. He's hungry and eager to want to learn and get better, which is great, and we know if we have that mindset, improvement happens.”

Jasper Scaife (One goal, 10 disposals, four marks)

“A quieter night for Scaifey. He spent some time through the ruck, kicked his one goal, just working really hard with Scaifey on his reaction and his ability to be involved on both sides of the ball, offensively and defensively. And then he's contested marking as well, so he's taken the four marks. But we want to really work on him being really strong in the contest and getting those and if he's not marking, getting the ball to ground to a small, which he's doing really well at some in some moments, but we need him to be really consistent in that space, but still had some good involvement in the game.”

Will McCabe (Seven disposals, five contested possessions, two score involvements)

“Again, a quieter game for Will, his first full game this year. So started to cramp late in the game, which is just be expected, hot night, night footy, but he got through the game comfortably. What we like with Will is his ability to get up and run and really provide some great run and carry once he gets higher up the ground. So he's playing, playing as a forward at the moment, getting high up the ground, and arguably beating his player back to goal, but then we can always put him back as well, which he was able to do late in the game and help us there.”

Matt Hill (One goal, four tackles, three intercept possessions)

“Matty kicked his first goal (on Friday). Like Noah, like Cody, all our younger guys, the Will’s, these type of guys, obviously, you know, they gonna have moments which are really strong, and they're gonna have moments which, you know, they're gonna be frustrating, but their willingness to learn, as I mentioned with Noah, Matty’s no different. He wants to learn, he's hungry to learn, his attitude and his willingness to buy into the program and make our place a better place is what he's bringing really well. He didn't have a have huge numbers, but his effort, his toughness and his ability to compete is what we love, and he's learning the game still, he's doing a really good job, as I mentioned, kicked the goal, four tackles. He's buying in really well, and we love having a part of our group.”

… A few VFL player shout outs.

Trent Bianco (31 disposals, 10 marks, six score involvements)

“Shout out to Trent Bianco, first game for Box Hill, 31 disposals. But his hunger and willingness to want to be the best he can be and really help our younger guys at Hawthorn be better, was first notch really loved having him involved and the support he was able to give around the footy to Henry and Rama and Noodle when they were in there was first class. And we've got a very good footballer on our hands there, but an even better person, so wrapped to have him.”

Kye Declase (25 disposals, 11 marks, four inside 50s)

“And then same with Kye Declase, again first game for the footy club. I know these guys have both played at the level before, but it's always nervous pulling on the jumper for the first time. And I thought Kye was really damaging for us out in the wing plays that role so well, and really gave us some great offensive drive, some of his decision making going forward, learning a new system, he'll get take time, but his willingness to want to be the best he can be for our footy club and to help the Hawthorn players around him and his teammates his first class, so I'll give them to a shout out this week.”