Box Hill have consolidated their spot inside the top eight with a hard fought 14-point victory over Frankston on Sunday afternoon.
Playing away from home, the Hawks managed to hold off a fast finishing Dolphins side who were aided with a breeze in the final term.
Playing in his first game for season 2012, Hawthorn-listed ruckman Max Bailey made a successful return from a wrist injury. Bailey got through unscathed and was one of the Hawks' best players booting three majors for the afternoon.
Fellow ruckman Adam Pattison was another key element in the Hawk win putting in time at both ends of the ground throughout the afternoon.
Following the victory, Box Hill coach Damian Carroll was pleased to come away with the four points but still believes there is plenty of room for improvement in his side.
“They are always tough to beat down here Frankston, I thought they had a real crack,” Carroll said.
“They beat us in the clearances pretty convincingly by 15, we weren’t able to get a lot of clear possession out of those clearances when we did win them.
“At times I thought we were good, at others I thought we were a bit scrappy and undisciplined and we also coughed up the ball a few times as well.”
Box Hill made the most of a strong breeze in the first term, kicking away to a 34-point lead at quarter time whilst at the same time keeping the hosts to a solitary behind.
The Hawks and ruckman Bailey had the best possible start they could have hoped for in the early stages of the encounter when the big man kicked to first goal of the day with an impressive soccer goal.
It was a seamless return to football for the Hawks ruckman and one Carroll was impressed with.
“I thought he was good, he moved well and he definitely ran out the game well, around about 80 minutes of time,” Carroll said.
“We were rapt with his performance today as well as Lowden and Pattison, I thought they were all pretty good.”
It was a much different story for the Hawks in the second quarter as Frankston took their chances and made the most of the strong breeze.
Box Hill struggled to exit their defensive half as the Dolphins set up camp inside forward 50. It took a piece of brilliance from livewire Amos Frank to relieve some pressure and kick a rare goal into the wind, one that would prove crucial as the day wore on.
“I thought to kick three goals to that end [into the wind] was the difference when they weren’t able to get one, I think it was pretty even besides that,” Carroll said.
Having opened up a 42-point lead in the third quarter, the game turned on its head in the final term as the Dolphins came home with a wet sail.
“We just let them back early in that last quarter gave them a bit of momentum,” Carroll said.
“We knew they were going to get a lot of inside 50s, we just had to try and win some contested ball and use it well up the ground.”
Two crucial final term goals from Frank and key forward Will Johnson ensured Box Hill returned to City Oval with the four points but it came not without a scare.
The challenge now for Box Hill and Carroll is to string together consecutive wins, a feat they have struggled to achieve for much of the 2012 season.
“I think we have won three of our last five and that’s been good but we certainly need to be chalking up a bit more consistency with our wins and hopefully next week we can get another one,” Carroll said.
Hawthorn-listed players
Max Bailey: Great return to football from the big man. In his first game for 2012, Bailey looked fit and ran out the game well. Impressed in the ruck and got dangerous going forward, kicking a game high three goals.
Amos Frank: Two goals, Frank continues to impact the scoreboard. The fact that both came into the wind made them even more crucial. His solo effort in the second term was something special.
Bradley Hill: A late exclusion from Hawthorn’s line-up, Hill played most of the day on the wing. His pace provided a good outlet in transition for the Hawks, particularly when kicking with the wind.
Angus Litherland: Good in defence. Had the job on dangerous forward James Appleford and kept him goalless.
Luke Lowden: Another good game from the ruckman. Lowden continues to build on a good season. His willingness to compete at ground level is always a feature.
Jordan Kelly: Solid down back, Kelly looked composed in possession. His rebound from defence was important.
Adam Pattison: Great return game from the big man. Played in a variety of roles throughout the afternoon and was particularly impressive floating loose in defense.
Taylor Duryea: Was clean with the football exiting defensive 50, his ability to hit up targets when Box Hill kicked into the wind was crucial.
Tom Schneider: Returned to the form he has shown for much of 2012, always a critical component of the Hawks engine room.
Mitch Hallahan: One of Box Hill’s best, Hallahan was tough in the clinches and came up with a couple of big plays when the game was on the line in the last term.
Jarrad Boumann: Important down back and competed well in the contest, particularly when the Hawks defended against the wind.
Box Hill 5.5 6.6 10.8 12.10 (82)
Frankston 0.1 3.7 3.8 9.14 (68)
Goals: Box Hill - M. Bailey 3, A. Frank 2, W. Johnson 2, L. Tobin , T. Gordon , D. Graham , A. Pattison , M. Hallahan
Frankston - L. Delahunty , M. Bosward , L. Potts , J. Matheson , A. Simpson , L. Clark , L. Osborne , N. Boland , J. Sketcher
Best: Box Hill - A. Pattison, T. Duryea, T. Schneider, M. Hallahan, T. Gilchrist, J. Boumann.
Frankston - M. Bosward, L. Delahunty, J. Sketcher, C. Buchan, S. Marusic, J. Matheso
