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BOX HILL suffered their fifth loss of the season on Saturday, going down to the fast finishing Bendigo Gold by 32 points in front of a big crowd at City Oval.
The loss has relegated the Hawks to eighth spot on the VFL ladder as they face a season defining month of football when they resume their season against the Northern Blues in two weeks.
A last quarter fade out cost Damian Carroll’s side a crucial four points, with the coach disappointed in his side’s ball use throughout the day.
“It’s pretty hard to win games when you are not executing your skills as well as you should," Carroll said.
“We coughed up the footy, that cost us some goals with really bad turnovers in defensive fifty, and at the other end we missed some shots and didn’t even score at other times when we should have.
“There were some positives you would draw out of it, we were pretty good around the footy with the clearances and I thought the effort was good.”
Leading at the first break, the Hawks dominated proceedings in the first term with Adam Pattison kicking Box Hill’s first of the day from a boundary throw in after 12 minutes of play. Only inaccuracy prevented Damian Carroll’s side from being further in front at quarter time.
When Luke Andrews kicked Box Hill further ahead to begin the second term it looked like it would be one-way traffic for the home side, however the Gold had different ideas.
Seemingly sparked into action, Bendigo strung together four unanswered goals to hit the lead with Essendon-listed duo David Hille and Michael Hibberd integral to the Gold’s resurgence.
Bendigo managed to extend their slender half time lead early in the third term courtesy of a Steve Stroobants major however the Hawks hit back quickly as both Adam Pattison and Amos Frank booted their second goals of the day. However after Frank’s left foot snap the Hawks would not see the lead again as the Gold took the game further from the home side’s reach.
The final term saw the visitors run out the game much the stronger with Bendigo taking the game away from the home side with a five goal to two final quarter consigning the Hawks to eighth spot.
Stephen Gilham and David Mirra were two of Box Hill’s best down back along with left-footer, Taylor Duryea. After travelling to Adelaide last week as an emergency for Hawthorn, Duryea was back in the Box Hill side and showed why he was close to an AFL debut last weekend.
“He was good. I thought he was in our best players, he committed well across the back half to some important contests” Carroll said.
Box Hill skipper Daniel Pratt missed the clash due to concussion suffered the week before in the Hawks win against Williamstown. Carroll confirmed that the ex-North Melbourne defender would be back after the bye.
“He’s fine, probably if we played tomorrow he would have been fine,” he said.
“You need a week with that concussion and obviously there is a no risk policy there, we could have done with him, he would have been important but at the same time we want to make sure his long term health is cleared up.”
Hawthorn-listed Players
Luke Lowden: Had a big task going up against experienced Essendon-listed ruckman David Hille. Finished the day with 14 hit outs and just seven possessions.
Taylor Duryea: Impressed in his Box Hill return after traveling to Adelaide with Hawthorn a week earlier. Duryea finished with 19 possessions and was effective by foot all afternoon.
Amos Frank: Only collected eight possessions but once again Frank was one of Box Hill's most dangerous attacking options. The small forward finished the day with 2.2.
Jarrad Boumann: Returning from injury, Boumann had 15 possessions in his first match back from injury. Serviceable down back, the defender finished with seven marks.
Stephen Gilham: Solid in defence, Gilham was charged with the responsibility of minding Scott Gumbleton. He finished the game with 12 possessions and an impressive six rebound 50's.
Sam Grimley: Worked hard with Lowden trying to stifle the impact of Hille. Grimley finished with nine possessions and six hit outs.
Cameron Bruce: Once again was one of the Hawks' major ball winners. The experienced Bruce collected 23 possessions and got better as the game wore on.
Kyle Cheney: Had a change of role, playing up forward in the absence of skipper Daniel Pratt and was effective in the forward post. Collected 16 possessions, 14 of which were kicks.
Jordan Kelly: Collected just seven possessions in defence. Kelly defended stoutly down back, managing two rebound 50's and finishing the afternoon with five tackles.
Tom Schneider: Box Hill's most prolific ball winner in the loss, Schneider collected 29 possessions. Once again led the Box Hill midfield managing five clearances and racking up a game-high six tackles.
Mitch Hallahan: Worked hard in the midfield. Hallahan finished with 14 possessions, four tackles and three clearances.
Adam Pattison: One of Box Hill's best, playing predominantly forward Pattison collected 14 possessions and six marks. He was Box Hill's main target up forward and finished with 2.2.
Box Hill Hawks 3.6 5.10 7.12 9.14 (68)
Bendigo Gold 1.4 6.7 9.12 14.16 (100)
Goals: Box Hill - A.Frank (2), A.Pattison (2), T.Northe (2), L.Lowden, L.Tobin, L.Andrews
Bendigo - K.Reimers (2), S.Stroobants (2), D.Hille (2), T.Colyer (2), M.Little (2), B.Duscher, C.Dell’olio, S.Gumbleton, L.Dalgleish
Best: Box Hill - S.Gilham, L.Andrews, T.Duryea, D.Mirra, M.Lock, A.Pattison
Bendigo - M.Hibberd, B.Lee, E.Kavanagh, J.Freezer, B.Duscher, J.Williams
- Photo courtesy Jenny Owens
