Round 15, Saturday 19 July
NAB Oval
Win three of the campaign tasted sweet for the Box Hill Hawks as they withstood a hefty four-five goal breeze in the final term to secure a 13.14.92 to 7.14.56 victory over the Northern Bullants.
Hawks coach Barry Mitchell called on his men to fight for the victory against his old side before the game and they did just that with a disciplined and concerted four-quarter effort.
Hawks forward Beau Dowler when speaking to ABC TV, said he was really impressed with the way his teammates handled the windy conditions.
“It was great, at three-quarter-time Barry emphasised how much we had to shut the game down and make it stoppage after stoppage and I thought the boys were great all day, especially in the last quarter,” Dowler said.
So good was the Hawks’ last term into the wind that they managed to outscore the Bullants by two goals.
In the end Box Hill players were far too desperate for the Bullants and much more efficient when they had the ball, particularly when kicking into the wind.
And it was pivotal the Hawks had the wind in the first term given their slow starts in games this season.
The Hawks went into the clash with a weakened lineup yet again, with regulars Brendan Whitecross, Josh Kennedy and Mitch Thorp sidelined.
But it didn’t seem to make a difference in the first quarter with the Hawks pouncing on the timid Bullants to get the start they needed.
Tim Clarke was very busy across half-back playing a generals role while Beau Dowler slotted in at centre-half-back for his second successive game.
Dowler was outstanding in the first quarter directing play and picking up nine possessions, three marks and kicking one goal.
Brad Neil also provided a viable foil up forward with two goals in the opening stanza.
The Hawks used the breeze wisely and tackled ferociously with Lukas Markovic leading by example, but it was how they altered their tactics when kicking into the wind that proved crucial.
Mitchell advised his players to pick their passes carefully rather than bomb it long with the wind and adopted more of a run and carry approach with the forwards vacating the F50 when kicking into the wind.
But the wind advantage was so significant that the Hawks’ first quarter six-goal-to-one blitz gave them just enough of a buffer to go in at half-time ahead.
After regaining the ascendancy in the third quarter the Hawks worked against the wind to a tee in the final term.
The players managed to starve the Bullants of possession often forcing them to bomb long to grateful Box Hill defenders.
It was also imperative the Hawks didn’t concede within the first five minutes when kicking into the wind which they managed to do in the second and fourth quarters.
The last quarter in particular was very impressive from the Hawks; they never allowed the Bullants an easy kick and showed that they have really progressed as a side.
Dowler was terrific all game and looks to be playing with real inner confidence.
He kicked three goals from defence and played up on the wing for stages, displaying his aerobic capacity and ability to find the ball, while Markovic did all the hard stuff and was important yet again.
Tim Clarke ran his opponents ragged as he always does and knocked up finding the ball, but really the team effort was what stood out most.
Every player played a role and most pleasing for the side was the relentless four-quarter pressure.
Dowler pointed to the side’s belief as a determining factor in the match and said they were quite capable of building on the success.
“I think we can, there’s very good belief in the group and we’ve been playing pretty good footy the results just haven’t show that,” he said.
He also paid tribute to coach Barry Mitchell.
“He’s a very passionate man, it’s his first year at the club and all the boys are loving him,” Dowler said.
The Hawks next assignment is the Casey Scorpions at home and another win could see them move up to 12th for the first time this season.
Box Hill Hawks: 6.4 / 7.6 / 10.12 / 13.14 (92)
Northern Bullants: 1.1 / 5.10 / 6.10 / 7.14 (56)
Goals: Dowler 3, Neil 2, Clarke, Neville, Hunter, Dawson, Marcius, Pedersen, Grima, Smithwick
Best: Markovic, Dowler, Dawson, Stokes, Clarke, McQueen-Miscamble
