A BEST ON GROUND performance from David Hale steered Box Hill to a 22-point win over Coburg in the VFL on Sunday.
The premiership ruckman/forward was one of a number of Hawthorn-listed players to be among the better players at City Oval, with defenders Kyle Cheney and Taylor Duryea along with midfielder Billy Hartung pressing their case for senior selection.
Omitted from the senior team three weeks ago for the Round 17 win over Adelaide, it was arguably Hale’s best performance of the year and creates another selection headache for Coach, Alastair Clarkson.
The Hawks are in the unique position of having four in-form ruckmen to choose from, with young big man Luke Lowden also among those to impress in the win.
“I think he was (best on ground), he was very good for us,” Development Academy Coordinator and former Box Hill premiership Coach Damian Caroll told hawthornfc.com.au
“He controlled the ruck and gave the midfielders first use, which we were then able to control the clearances from his work.
“It was a really good day for him, it was really pleasing that he helped us get the result.”
The Hawks survived a late fight back from Coburg who kicked seven goals to four in the final term but it was too little too late.
After being omitted from the team that beat Adelaide two weeks ago, Duryea returned to Box Hill and put in a typically solid performance in defence.
Playing mostly as a small defender, Duryea provided some handy run off half-back with 18 disposals and six handball receives.
“He played well and carried a strong attitude into the game,” Caroll said.
“He was pretty influential and was a strong voice down in defence with the younger boys.
“He swept behind the contest pretty well but it was the type of game we’ve come to expect from him at that level.”
First-year midfielder Billy Hartung has also pushed his case to return to the Hawthorn side with 22 disposals and a goal.
In his second game back from an elbow injury, Hartung’s ability to run and carry through the midfield was important with 13 handball receives for the game.
His ability to take the game on has been a highlight this year.
“He was able to get wide and be used – his ability to take the game on we were really excited about,” Caroll said.
“He’s definitely a player in the mix for senior selection. It’s a fairly healthy list at the moment though, so it’s a hard team to break into.”
Young defender Jordan Kelly continued his string of impressive performances in a bid to become Hawthorn’s eighth AFL debutant of the year.
A player in which Caroll has previously described as Box Hill’s most consistent of the year, Kelly picked up another 22 disposals and booted two goals while playing across half-back and on the wing.
“He’s beautifully skilled on both sides of his body, really well balanced and hard at the footy,” Caroll said.
“He was really good and one of our better players on the day for sure.”
In his 50th game for Box Hill, Cheney was again listed among the best, impressing with both his offence and defence.
Again pushing his case for a senior recall, Cheney had 23 disposals and took nine marks.
The win has cemented Box Hill’s place in second on the VFL ladder, six points behind ladder-leader Port Melbourne and two points clear of Footscray in third position.
FINAL SCORE
BOX HILL HAWKS 5.6 8.14 12.18 16.19 (115)
COBURG 3.0 4.0 7.4 14.9 (93)
GOALS
BOX HILL HAWKS: D. Hale 5, J. Kelly 2, B. Ross 2, L. Tobin 2, T. O'Brien, S. Grimley, B. Hartung, S. Collins, S. Cust.
COBURG: D. Younan 4, N. Carnell 2, D. Venditti 2, Z. Saad 2, B. Sortino, D. Cooper, B. Clifton, D. Hill.
BEST
BOX HILL HAWKS: D. Hale, K. Cheney, J. Kelly, M. Lock, B. Hartung, B. Ross.
COBURG: D. Younan, N. Carnell, B. Clifton, O. Uysal, N. Blair, A. Saad.
