A destructive seven-goal final term has driven Box Hill to an 18-point victory over a hostile Frankston on Sunday afternoon.
Frankston burst out of the blocks to pile on seven first-term goals, taking advantage of the howling Frankston Beach gale at Skybus Stadium.
The Dolphins welcomed the reigning premiers to the Mornington Peninsula with ferocious, unforgiving pressure around the ball, out-hunting the Hawks with numbers around the contest to then surge forward in packs.
Set-shot goals to Corey Rich and Jimmy Miller, followed by two spectacular running goals to Will Fordham within a minute, mounted the pressure on Box Hill.
In 30 minutes of play, the fifteenth-placed Frankston had the visitors on the ropes, holding a 43-point lead at the first break.
The contest threatened to boil over at quarter-time as an all-in scuffle broke out. The heat didn’t end there for Box Hill, as a Max Bailey rocket followed soon after.
Box Hill began to steadily claw themselves back into the contest in the second term.
Two goals to defender Teia Miles – the first a 50-metre set shot, the second after taking on an opponent and launching a long-range running goal from outside 50-metres – kickstarted the Hawks.
Defender turned forward Jacob Koschitzke slotted a set shot for his first in the brown and gold, Mat Walker roved a boundary throw in to snap a goal out of congestion, while David Mirra made the most of a 50-metre penalty to notch a booming set-shot goal.
But with six more inside 50s and five goals for the term, Box Hill was left to rue nine behinds as they still trailed Frankston by 12 points at half-time.
The match reached a whole new level of intensity in the third term, as Frankston’s Will Fordham dominated the play to snap his third goal to open the second-half.
Goals via a crumb to last week’s hero Nathan Boucher and a mid-air hack from Will Golds proved vital for Box Hill against the breeze and run of play.
But manic pressure and ferocious tackling from a fiery Frankston, led to a Rob Turnbull major in the dying stages of the term, sealing a five-goal third term to the home side.
It left Box Hill reeling, needing 31- points for victory in the final term.
Enter a Box Hill highlight reel and one of the most prolific quarters of the season.
Jacob Koschitzke kicked a commanding set-shot for his second of the day, and Box Hill’s first of the final term.
Liam Mackie launched a booming kick from the centre square, catching the wind and tumbling through the goals for the Hawks’ second.
Jarryd Roughead received a handball and slotted a brilliant running snap on his left for the Hawks’ third.
James Cousins got his boot to an opportunistic snap at goal out of heavy congestion for the Hawks’ fourth.
Will Golds reached into his trick bag to kick a miraculous snap from the boundary for the Hawks’ fifth.
Marc Pittonet took a strong contested mark in the goal square and executed the set-shot from close range for the Hawks’ sixth.
While James Cousins saved the best until last. The midfielder took on three scrambling Frankston opponents and snapped the goal of the day from tight on the boundary line to record a mammoth seventh final-term goal to the Hawks.
Although made to work, Box Hill ultimately overpowered an aggressive Frankston to record its first back-to-back wins since Round 2.
Box Hill Skipper Andrew Moore led from the front in wet and wild conditions, amassing 31 disposals and eight tackles.
James Cousins battled hard until the final siren to finish with 25 disposals, three marks, three tackles and two final term goals, while fellow Hawthorn midfielder Harry Jones continued his superb form to gather 24 disposals and lay 12 tackles.
Marc Pittonet dominated the ruck contest to record 53 hitouts, 21 disposals, six tackles and a goal, while David Mirra toiled valiantly on the last line of defence to finish with 14 disposals, five marks and four tackles.
A relieved Box Hill Coach Max Bailey spoke post-match about the importance of securing the four points.
“We are a bit frustrated, but relieved at the same time,” Bailey said.
“We encountered a good Frankston team who were ready to go, and we weren’t ready to go.”
“I’m just trying to figure out how we get that start better.”
“They were saying to each other, we needed to win the contested ball and the hunt on the inside. They (Frankston) really took it up to us and outclassed us in that area.”
“I think we are still finding out a bit about ourselves as a team.”
“We are on the fringe of the eight. We need strong performances. We got that in the second, third and fourth quarters.”
“We need to close the gap between our best and our worst.”
In a tight race for Top 8 positions, Box Hill’s win lifts it to fifth position on the VFL ladder.
Box Hill will return to Box Hill City Oval next Sunday to take on the second-placed Richmond.
BOX HILL HAWKS 0.1 5.9 7.11 14.18 (102)
FRANKSTON 7.2 8.2 13.6 13.6 (84)
GOALS
Box Hill Hawks: Cousins 2, Golds 2, Koschitzke 2, Miles 2, Roughead, Walker, Boucher, Mackie, Mirra, Pittonet
Frankston: Fordham 3, Turnbull 3, Muller 2, Rich, Miller, Gill-Renouf, Mullane, Newman
LEADING DISPOSALS
Box Hill Hawks: Moore 31, Cousins 25, Jones 24, Pittonet 21, Meadows 19
Frankston: Fordham 30, Newman 28, McMahon 24
