Five goals by Jordan Lisle helped the Box Hill Hawks blitz to a well earned 41-point victory against the Northern Bullants to win, 18.16.(124) to the Bullants 12.11.(83).

With the wind in the final quarter, Box Hill set up the win sailing through 8.7 to the Bullants 2.2 to record their sixth victory and second against the Bullants for the season.

Box Hill again found the break at the latter stages with the Hawks band of runners out pacing the Bullants tiring bodies.

For Box Hill Coach Brendon Bolton, the game was really the first with a full Box Hill outfit.

“It was far easier in terms of structures.

“I’ve had to coach really hard in terms of trying to invent things quite a bit when you have a few talls out.

“When you have two genuine ruckmen, it allows you to keep your structures and we can play players where we actually wanted to, instead of trying to pinch hit in all sorts of spots.

“It was probably the most settled team in terms of structure that we’ve had this year and that really helped.” Bolton said.

Returning after a long break on the sidelines with a fractured leg, Hawthorn-listed ruckman Simon Taylor (30 hitouts) teamed up with new recruit Luke Lowden in the middle.

The game was Simon Taylor’s first hit-out for the year and Lowden’s first in the Box Hill senior side, both making the most of their opportunity.

Having Carlton’s big men Robert Warnock and newly formed ruckman Levi Casboult taking their duties, the imposing forces on both sides set the scene for the match to be a good battle from the beginning.

Only a single point split the teams at half-time, with the Bullants struggling to kick against the wind to only manage a solitary goal in the second term.

After the scores remained even at the third term break, Box Hill pulled all their tricks out of the hat and created a lead of more than six goals.

Jordan Lisle kicked two important goals in the final term and received great praise from Brendon Bolton.

“Jordy took some really big pack marks.

“He played like a big man and he had a ripper game.” Bolton said.

In the blustery conditions Box Hill was able to make a gain from both ends of the ground, where in contrast the Bullants could only manage a good score from one.

Along with Lisle in the centre patrolling play, Matt Suckling collected 33 disposals as one of the Hawks best.

Hawthorn's Brendan Whitecross lifted the bar with great leadership and 22 disposals.

Cameron Pedersen celebrated his 50th match for Box Hill in style, gathering 16 disposals and keeping the ball away from the Bullants forwards with some heavy spoiling.

Beau Muston (30) again used his speed to advantage with some good runs through the centre driving the ball deep inside fifty. Muston, triggering many goals for the Hawks, gave extra energy as the x-factor.

Beau Dowler was also dangerous for the Hawks with three goals. Dowler produced some good body work to gain the ball in one-on-one contests and helped set up the win with some nice work in the final term at crucial stages.

Dead eye for goal, Sam Gibson took it up to the Bullants collecting 33 disposals and two goals.

Box Hill had two small injury concerns out of the match with Hawk Liam Shiels sustaining a corked hip and Box Hill Captain Steve Kenna a low grade ankle sprain, but both should recover in short-time from their injuries. 

Box Hill moves up to seventh position after both rivals Sandringham and Bendigo Bombers fighting for a top eight spot fell in both their matches.

Next, the Box Hill Hawks travel to Trevor Barker Oval to play Sandringham on Sunday 18 July.

The match will be a key game for the Hawks with the top four still a possibility.

Box Hill Hawks: 3.3 / 7.7 / 10.9 / 18.16.124
Northern Bullants: 6.3 / 7.6 / 10.9 / 12.11.83

Goals: J. Lisle 5, B. Dowler 3, S. Gibson 2, G. Moss 2, S. Kenna 2, R. Ladson, T. Tuck, C. Stokes, M. Suckling

Best: J. Lisle, M. Suckling, B. Whitecross, C. Pedersen, R. Milne, B. Muston