Box Hill Match Report
Round 7, Box Hill City Oval
Sunday 18 May

The Box Hill Hawks were overcome by 48 points in a forgettable day at Box Hill City Oval on Sunday afternoon.

The Hawks were in with a shot after a sloppy first half and trailed by just two points but were run over the top of by a dedicated Port Melbourne side.

In the third term the Borough piled on nine goals to three, tearing the game open in the process.

The cold and slippery conditions pointed to a slog fest and in the end the game failed to live up to any standards, it certainly wasn’t one for the time capsule.

Hawthorn-listed defender Tom Murphy came back into the side to give the Hawks some stability; his return marked the only change for Box Hill as Travis Tuck missed out through injury.

Meanwhile former Hawthorn great Gary Ayres was perched in the coaching box as Port Melbourne’s head man.

The Borough also has some quality players lining up in former Roo John Baird, David Spriggs (Geelong/Sydney), Luke Livingston (Carlton), Corey McGrath (Essendon/Carlton) and former Hawk Bo Nixon.

In the first term neither side gave an inch with the Hawks doing the early pressing.

In a bid to rest back control Port flooded back; something they persisted with all day.

Early on their defensive mindset played into Box Hill’s hands as they struggled to get the ball forward of centre. But as the quarter worn on Port broke down the Hawks and would have led at quarter-time if not for a Hawk goal after the siren.

If the first quarter was disappointing the game seemed to slip away even more in the second and was played at a very slow tempo – something the Hawks have not been accustomed to in recent weeks.

Port’s Robin Nahas loomed as the danger man; the tricky little midfield/forward was watched very closely by the Box Hill coaching staff.

He sparked his side and helped Port open up a three goal cushion in the second. However, the Hawks worked their way back into the contest by half time.

Mitch Thorp reeled in a couple of important marks as the Hawks closed in. The margin at half-time was cut to just two points in favour of Borough

But it was the third quarter which Port dominated that defined the outcome of the match.

After Port kicked away early the Hawks looked in trouble and weren’t playing particularly good football.

Cameron Stokes was one shining light; he electrified the crowd and scored a great goal after a mazing run to cut the margin to 16 points.

Soon after Beau Dowler’s miserable day got worse when he dropped a sitter just outside the goal square as the Hawks were making a move.

To make matters worse Stokes – the Hawks best player to that point with three goals – ended his day with what looked like a serious hamstring injury.

You could sense his absence immediately as Port kicked away to take a 41-point-lead into the last change.

The game was as good as gone and Hawks coach Barry Mitchell knew only a miracle would spare his side.

In response he threw caution to the wind, sending Dowler down back and defender Zac Dawson up forward in what can only be described as an experimental move.

Dawson acquitted himself quite well after a quiet day in defence, he was the lone target up forward and at least made a contest at every opportunity.

Dowler on the other hand looked like a fish out of water - defence certainly isn’t a strong suite of his. His day up until three-quarter-time was bitterly disappointing, too often he played from behind and was as quiet as he has ever been with just six touches and three marks for the day.

Alex Grima also played a hand up forward for the Hawks in the final term. He took a couple of robust pack marks and had his greatest impact for the season.

Captain Alister Neville kicked a wonderful goal on the run from fifty metres in a rare highlight for the Hawks. That capped off his fruitful day which provided 31 possessions, nine marks and two goals.

Sam Gibson contributed again with 19 disposals, five marks and two goals while Tim Clarke (27), Josh Kennedy (24), Steve Kenna (18), Batsanis (18) were the Hawks mainstays yet again.

Cam Hunter had little of it but did a great negating job down back on a number of Port’s danger forwards and Gary Moss looked lively but couldn’t quite put it together; wayward kicking left him with a return of four behinds.

In the end the Hawks had no avenue to goal. Dowler and Digby Morrell were very quiet as was Kris Shore, leaving the midfielders to pick up the slack. You’ll win very few games while relying on your midfielders to kick a winning score.

For Port Melbourne it was Baird (26 and six marks) and Jonathan Mullins (17 touches and five goals) that helped orchestrate the win for the Borough.

Baird provided enourmous drive from the back while Mullins’ five majors were a real surprise given he was playing his first game after being elevated to the senior side.

The Hawks will need to do some serious soul-searching after this latest setback against a side they could probably account for on their day.

It was by no means a weak side that Box Hill put out on the park but the effort just wasn’t their from many players who had poor games.

Despite the huge loss suffered to Sandringham in Round 4 this was perhaps the Hawks most disappointing performance given the side’s recent upturn in form.

And the task isn’t about to get any easier with the lowly Hawks to face rampaging ladder-leaders Williamstown away next Saturday. The Seagulls have lost just one game for the season.

One thing is for sure a win is needed soon down at Box Hill if the side is to retain belief and challenge this season.


Box Hill Hawks: 4.4 / 8.6 / 11.8 / 13.14 (92)
Port Melbourne: 4.3 / 8.8 / 17.13 / 21.14 (140)

Goals: Stokes 3, Neville 2, Gibson 2, Kennedy 2, Clarke, Morrell, Shore, Thorp

Best: Kennedy, Stokes, Neville, Clarke, Hunter, Kenna


Hawks in reserve

Tom Murphy – 28 touches, eight marks. Started very well and straightened the Hawks up at CHB providing great drive through the middle as well. Drifted out the game as the day worn on but a positive return from injury overall.

Garry Moss – 18 possessions, six marks. Looked lively at stages and gave Box Hill that little bit of polish but had a dirty day in front of goal registering just the four behinds.

Cameron Stokes – 8 touches, two marks, three goals. Didn’t get a great deal of it for the two and a half quarters he did play but was very damaging when he got the ball. Ended with three exciting goals before leaving with a serious hamstring twang midway through the third quarter.

Josh Kennedy – 24 disposals, two goals. Had another solid outing, his form has been as consistent as any player in the side.

Brent Renouf – 13 disposals, 27 hit outs. Had his fair share of hit outs but didn’t do a great deal around the ground. Still, 13 touches in anyone’s language is serviceable for a ruckman.

Tim Clarke – 27 touches, seven marks, one goal. Another hard working game from Clarke, he’s yet to put in a bad performance and may get a look in at Hawthorn if injuries and suspension permit.

Alex Grima – 11 possessions. Didn’t make his mark in the first three terms but had an impact when thrown forward in the last. He took a couple of great marks and proved a handful for the defenders.

Mitch Thorp – 13 touches, eight marks, one goal. Was used in defence, the ruck and up forward. Battled hard and showed signs his development is on track. Needs to find more consistency and may still be a little way off a berth with Hawthorn.

Beau Dowler – six possessions, three marks. Failed to trouble the scorers and did next nothing. Dropped the simplest of chest marks at a crucial stage giving up what would have been a certain goal. Has played very well in a couple of games this season – last week springs to mind, but is woefully inconsistent. After having little impact he was put in defence to end the game – let’s hope that’s the last time that move is made as well.

Jaryd Morton – 19 touches, four marks. Failed to stamp his imprint on the game but wasn’t one of the Hawks worst.

Zac Dawson – 14 disposals, seven marks. Had a good return in terms of disposal and marks. Started down back where he still looks a little timid but when he went forward in the latter stages he seemed to revel in the role but at the same time I wouldn’t say he has a future up forward.

Brendan Whitecross – 13 touches, four marks. Looks like he has all the ingredients to become a good winger but needs to find more of it. He’s 79kg and 183cm with good agility and pace.

Tim Walsh, Hugh Sandilands and Matt Suckling – All played reserves: Walsh kicked three goals while Sandilands played a dominant hand in the ruck and filled the hole down back repelling many of Port’s attacks. Suckling kicked a goal but wasn’t his usual damaging self.