Match Preview: Hawks Hunt 3-0 Start

Hawks vs Cats. Need we say more?

Who: Geelong
Where: GMHBA Stadium
When: Sunday, 2:05pm
TV/Streaming: VFL live stream available via the VFL Match Centre

Back At It

The Box Hill Hawks are back in action following a long lay off, returning to the field of play for the first time in 22 days!

A Little Bit of History

The. Hawks and Cats have played one another 33 times at VFL level since 2000, with the team in brown and gold victorious on 23 occasions – including the past nine meetings.

Geelong’s most recent win against Box Hill came back in round 11 of 2016 – a 49-point triumph at GMHBA Stadium – but its been the Hawks who have claimed the subsequent two clashes down the highway – in round 4 of 2017 and round 2 of 2024.

Funnily, while both of those wins look relatively comfortable on paper, they were secured on the back of barnstorming final quarters.

12-points down at the final change when the sides met in Cats heartland this time last year, the Hawks booted 8.5 to 1.1 in the last frame to run out 34-point winners.

To put the result into context, Box Hill lead by just two-points at the 23-minute mark of the quarter.

It was goals from Andreas Stefanakis, Sam Butler, Jack O’Sullivan and a late double to Calsher Dear which blew the game apart and secured a most remarkable victory for the visitors.

The aforementioned quartet kicked 12 goals between them on the day, headlined by four from the boot of Sam Butler, while Finn Maginness was magnificent with 28 touches and a vital final quarter goal of his own.

Speaking of Finn Maginness and vital final quarter goals, it was then then Hawks no.32 who was the hero in the reverse fixture in round 15.

On a rollicking afternoon at Box Hill City Oval the Hawks looked to be in trouble deep into time on, before Maginnes swooped on a handball, broke a tackle, advanced inside 50 and kicked the goal which put his side one-point up with 27-and-a-half minutes gone.

It was to be the last act of a frantic match.

Ben Cavarra was sensational with three goals, while Josh Ward (31 disposals), Jai Serong (27 disposals) and Maginness (24 disposals and two goals) were well and truly among their team’s best on the day.

The Season So Far

Box Hill – played 2, won 2 – ninth on the ladder
Geelong – played 3, won 3 – third on the ladder

The two sides come into Sunday’s match-ups boasting early-season unbeaten records.

Box Hill have accounted for the 5th-placed North Melbourne and the 18th-placed Carlton, while Geelong’s wins have come against the 12th-placed Casey Demons, 20th-placed Sandringham and 21-st-placed Northern Bullants.

The Hawks have won a pair of nail-biters to open the 2025 campaign, having survived a late scare against Carlton in round one and overrun the Kangaroos a week later.

For their part, the Cats beat Sandringham and the Bullants by five-goals apiece and the Demons last time out by 16-points.

We’re only a couple of games into the year and neither team played  last week…

Selection News

Zane Littlejohn and his match committee have made six changes to the side which last played for premiership points on March 29th.

Into the 23 comes key backs James Blanck and Sam Durdin, small forwards Sam Butler and Jack Ginnivan, rebounding half-back Seamus Mitchell and front-half utility Blake Simondson.

Six additions necessitate six omissions and while Sam Frost has been elevated to Hawthorn’s senior squad for Monday’s blockbuster at the MCG, the unlucky quintet to make way is comprised of Corey Preston, who will sadly sit out the remainder of 2025 with a torn ACL, Jasper Scaife, who is also injured and the young trio of Seb Amoroso, Jack Sammartino and Andreas Stefanakis.

One(s) to Watch

Well, where do you want to start?

Is it the returning duo of James Blanck and Sam Butler? Is Club debutants Sam Durdin and Jack Ginnivan? Is it VFL debutant Blake Simondson?

Is it all of them? No, because it’s a long season and I don’t want to burn five potential options in one write-up.

Truthfully, it’s hard to look past Jack Ginnivan, who plays his first game at the VFL level since his move to Waverley Park and the end of 2023.

The livewire small forward has had a tricky start to 2025, but heads down the highway knowing he has more than enough class around the ball and smarts around goal to impact; and, crucially, work his way into a senior re-call.

Sometimes its as simple as ‘you can’t bury the lede,’ and when it comes to Jack Ginnivan everyone in football knows he creates conversation and commands attention… But there are few players more fun to watch.

How To Follow

Match coverage will be provided via our social channels throughout the day, while a radio call will be available via our wonderful community partners 3WBC 94.1FM.

Where To Watch

You can catch the live stream via the VFL match centre! The VFL live stream is available via the VFL Match Centre.