HAWTHORN development coach Chris Newman evaluates every AFL-listed player's performance for Box Hill in Round 3.
The Hawks' VFL affiliate posted a hard-fought eight-point win against Coburg to go to the top of the VFL ladder.
Kaiden Brand
"KB had 12 disposals, four tackles and six marks. He was really solid in his defence and had quite a few spoils, which were really important for us. He’s had a pretty good season so far."
Jack Fitzpatrick
"Fitzy is getting better and better. He kicked a couple of goals which was good, and if he doesn’t mark the ball he competes, which is the most important thing. I think he’s slowly building – he’s missed a bit of football but is making progress."
Kurt Heatherley
"Kurt was solid again in defence. He didn’t get huge numbers offensively, but defensively he was pretty good. Similar to KB, he had a lot of spoils and influence defensively and also took seven marks."
Kieran Lovell
"Lovey had 20 touches and a shot at goal – it’s really good to see that from the midfield he can give us some run forward. He gives us some strength at the clearances, he’s pretty hard to tackle, a pretty elusive sort of player. He had a good balance – he had four inside 50s and defensively is getting better as well."
Blake Hardwick
"Blake’s a really tough, in-and-under player and provides a genuine contest. What we love about Blake is his pressure and physicality – he had five tackles and his contested possession count was quite high."
Marc Pittonet
"Pitto took some really strong marks for us and competed well in the ruck. He had 37 hit-outs and is competing for us around the ground – his run and spread is getting better with each game and he’s growing in confidence which is good."
Kade Stewart
"Kade’s another one of those strong bodies – his tackling is a real highlight of his game each week. He had seven again and a lot of them are really bone-crunching tackles. He also provided us with some offensive run – he had 18 touches and hit the scoreboard with 2.1."
Daniel Howe
"Howey was good, he had 29 touches and nine tackles, and I think his pressure acts were through the roof. Not only his ability to win the footy, but his ability to apply pressure was really important – as it is for any midfielder. He had eight clearances and was really important in the centre bounces in particular."
Teia Miles
"Milesy was good with his offensive run, his ability to break the lines, and he used the ball really well by foot. He provided some hard runs and hit the scoreboard again. The part I liked about his game was his work (off the ball) – he finished with four tackles but also had a few chases. He had a real focus on his defensive actions, and I thought he had a pretty good balance (between attack and defence)."
Brendan Whitecross
"Whitey competed hard, he didn’t get a high number of possessions but I think his leadership on the day was outstanding. We were challenged and he had a really strong presence for us. His work rate was really high again, which shows that he’s trying hard."
Jonathan O'Rourke
"Jono finished with 14 touches, but he didn’t play a lot of the last quarter because he was a bit tight. His work in close was quite good and he kicked a really important goal for us late in the last quarter – he was able to push through and provide that last quarter goal."
Jermaine Miller-Lewis
"Jermaine was good again, he’s had a really consistent season. He had 18 touches and is playing with a fair bit of physicality. His ball use has been a highlight this year. Defensively he’s getting that balance right down back, and then providing some offensive drive when we get the football."
Angus Litherland
"Gus was quite good in intercepting the ball for us, he won the ball back on numerous occasions in the air and on the ground. 23 touches is a pretty good return – his speed and ability to create and receive handballs was important to give us that offensive drive. That seniority was important too, particularly in the dying stages."
Dallas Willsmore
"Dallas again accumulated the ball, it was a polished performance really. He used the ball really well, had two shots at goal and had 11 marks, which indicates his work rate in and around the footy but also his spread to provide an option for us. He finished with a handful of tackles too which was good, another solid game."
Matt Spangher
"Spang was great, it didn’t look like he’d missed any sort of football. He slotted straight back in and was his competitive self. He had a really good attitude with his second and third efforts around the footy and had five marks, a few of which were intercept marks. His leadership was invaluable on the day… I think he would be quite happy with that return."
