The Box Hill Hawks have moved to two-and-zero on the season, defeating North Melbourne by nine points on Saturday afternoon.

Having been jumped out the gates, the Hawks trailed for the majority of the contest – and were as many as 29-points down late in the third term – before kicking seven of the final eight goals, including 5.3 to 1.1 in the last, to pinch the points.

Henry Hustwaite was sensational in the Box Hill engine room and by game’s end was the number one player on the ground for ranking points (126), disposals (38), clearances (12), inside 50s (9) and contested possessions (25).

He was so dominant inside the contest his 25 contested possessions left him +15 on the nearest Kangaroo, while his 12 clearances were seven clear of the top ranked North Melbourne player, Luke Urquhart.

As if to underline his ball hunting ability on the day, Hustwaite also ranked number one among all Box Hill players for tackles with six.

Hawks’ skipper Cal Porter was at his versatile best, deployed for large parts of the game as a defensive forward. Our no.55 finished with 20 touches and a goal, a decent stat line given any role, but did just as much damage of the ball to create space for teammates and ill-discipline from his opponents.

Big-man Ned Reeves played one of his best games at VFL level, controlling the ruck all afternoon to finish with a game-high 34 hit-outs, 19 disposals, seven clearances and, most important of all, two goals.

Kye Declase left his mark on what was his 100th VFL match, too, extracting maximum impact from 14 hard-fought touches. Deployed mostly on a wing and between the arcs, Declase kicked two vital goals – one of which in the shadows of three quarter time was his 100th at the level – and was a threat throughout.

Another to boot two classy goals was Ethan Stanley, who in his second stint at City Oval played one of best games in the brown and gold. His 18 touches were comprised of 12 contested possessions, four inside 50s, five rebound 50s and, most impressive of all given his reputation as a hard-running wingman, eight clearances. 

Lastly among the Hawks’ best players was fellow recruit Trent Bianco. The former Magpie did a little bit of everything on his way to 24 touches, playing predominantly inside for the first three quarters before going to half-back in the last term to shore things up. His seven inside 50s ranked third behind Hustwaite and Porter, while his four clearances and three rebound 50s underlined his exceptional work rate.

Others to perform well on the day were marking forwards Jasper Scaife and Max Ramsden. The pair split five goals on the day and provided chop out support for Ned Reeves around the ground.

At the other end of the field reigning best-and-fairest Jai Serong continues to impress, having become one of Zane Littlejohn’s most consistent and reliable contributors. Serong hauled a game-high eight marks, won 22 touches, laid four tackles and tallied a game-high seven rebounds 50s in another sterling display.

On a day in which the key statistical indicators were fairly even, it was Box Hill’s dominance at stoppage which proved the tiebreaker. The Hawks, lead by Hustwaite, Stanley and Reeves finished +25 for clearances, suggesting the longer the game went first use became a factor.

All told the Hawks lead for just 10-and-a-half minutes on the day, but most important of all had their noses in front come the final siren.

Goalless until the final moments of the first term, Scaife’s opening goal of the day allowed Box Hill’s to escape a tricky first term just 17-points in arrears.

Kye Declase booted his first of the day just 28 seconds into the second term, but back-to-back North majors saw the visitors race to a 25-point lead barely 10 minutes later.

In need of a response, it arrived with the cavalry. Goals to Will McCabe, Ramsden, Reeves and Jack Sammartino – his first goal at the VFL level – trimmed the half-time deficit to just two points and set the stage for an enthralling second half.

Refreshed from the break, Ramsden’s second gave his side their first lead of the afternoon early in the third term, before the Kangaroos produced their best period of the day to move within touching distance of a sensational away win.

Five goals without replay between the eight and 24 minute marks left the hosts 29-points behind and reeling… but salvation arrived deep into time on via the boots of Stanley and Declase, who popped up with back-to-back goals to give their side a sniff.

Needing to win the final frame by three goals to win the match, Reeves’ second looked to have been the perfect start, but North’s Cooper Harvey was quick to cancel it out. 

With 18 final quarter minutes gone the hosts still needed three goals without reply to claim the points. Up popped Stanley again, then Porter. The margin was now just four.

By the time Jasper Scaife had gone bang, bang, the Hawks’ lead was nine and there wasn’t time enough for the Kangaroos to respond.

Having seen off a late surge in round one, Box Hill provided one of their own to remain undefeated ahead of back-to-back byes.

The Hawks will next be in action against the Cats on Easter Sunday.

Best: Hustwaite, Porter, Reeves, Declase, Stanley, Bianco

Goals: Scaife 3, Stanley, Reeves, Ramsden, Declase 2, Sammartino, Porter, McCabe

Disposals: Hustwiate 38, Bianco 24, Serong 22, Porter 20, Reeves 19, Stanley 18