Box Hill have crashed to their eighth straight defeat after a blistering St Kilda Sharks’ second half performance nipped their chances of victory in the bud.
Despite the late withdrawal of star defender Chantella Perera, the Hawks were just two points down at half time. However, they had no answer in the second half as the Sharks slammed on 8.4 to no score to romp home to a 54-point victory.
After testing the 2016 finalists in their Round 3 meeting, Box Hill were determined to go one better and claim their first victory when they travelled to the Peanut Farm Reserve. The Hawks’ first half performance ranks as one of their best yet, not least for the team’s response to the loss of the mercurial Perera. Her replacement Sera Catania grabbed the unexpected chance with both hands, proving herself on debut.
Box Hill won the toss and captain Mel Kuys elected to kick with a stiff breeze. Emily Gilder snared her side’s first as the Hawks got the upper hand in the clearances. The Hawks then went to the next level kicking into the wind in the second quarter, with the defence holding firm and the rebound provided netting them two goals through Ebony Nixon and Pip Peschke. Kuys and Jayde Van Dyk led their side with aplomb as Box Hill led in possessions, tackles and clearances at half time.
Read: VFL match report - Hawks go down to Williamstown
However, it was a completely different story in the second half. The Sharks got on a roll and the Hawks’ nerve failed them as they undid an excellent half’s work. The likes of Laura Bailey, Ruby Schleicher and Maddie Gay excelled while Brianna Davey broke the Hawks’ backs with a pair of final quarter goals.
Box Hill burned at the 54-point margin and could only put the match into the ‘What could have been’ column. Nonetheless, they had once again shown they could match it with the best in VFL Women’s; all that remains is to put four quarters together. Kuys, Van Dyk and Peschke were superb while debutants Catania, Ellie Macdonald, Kirsty Stratton and Julia Crockett-Grills all acquitted themselves well.
“Our first half was us at our best and the third quarter was our worst,” lamented coach Patrick Hill after the match.
Box Hill will have their best chance of victory yet when they take on bottom side Seaford next Sunday at Box Hill City Oval from 3pm.
