Preview: Hawks Head North To Tackle Coburg

The Hawks will be out to secure an all-important four points before a second bye of the 2025 season, further consolidating a place atop the VFL ladder.

Who: Coburg
Where: Barry Plant Park, Coburg
When: Saturday, 2:05pm
TV/Streaming: Live stream available via the VFL Match Centre

Past Five Meetings

Round 5, 2023: Box Hill 19.10 124 defeated Coburg 6.17 53
Round 5, 2022: Coburg 6.7 43 defeated by Box Hill 8.19 67
Round 4, 2019: Box Hill 16.12 108 defeated Coburg 8.9 57
Round 3, 2018: Coburg 12.11 83 defeated by Box Hill 24.11 155
Round 2, 2017: Box Hill 20.8 128 defeated Coburg 9.8 62

A Little Bit of History

Played 83 – Box Hill 39, Coburg 43, 1 draw

The Hawks enjoy a sensational recent record against Coburg, having won each of the past 13 meetings between the sides.

The last time the ‘Burgers bested Box Hill was was back in round 6, 2012 – a 13-point win at Highgate Reserve.

Interestingly, if the Hawks are successful in achieving a 14th consecutive win over the Lions it will equal the longest winning run in the rivalry – a stretch spanning 20 years from 1970 to 1990 in which Coburg were too good for Box Hill 14 times on the trot.

Owing to fixture complications brought about by COVID and the newly minted VFL which emerged out of that period, the sides have played just twice since early-2019 – and not at all in 2021 and 2024.

When the teams last locked horns it was a strong second term and a dominant final quarter which was ultimately the difference. A goal up at quarter time, 27-points to the good at the long break and 29-points in front come the final change, it was a 7.3 to 0.3 fourth period saw the brown and gold run out 71-point winners.

Jumping Jaylon Thorpe was sensational with four goals, while Jacob Koschitzke and Sam Butler recorded hat-tricks of their own; the two Max’s – Ramsden and Hall – each chimed in with doubles, while Cooper Stephens, Ed Phillips, Jack O’Sullivan, Finn Maginness and Josh Bennetts also hit the scoreboard.

Lachlan Bramble and Callum Brown did the damage with ball in had, finishing with 37 and 33 touches respectively, while Josh Weddle and Jack O’Sullivan were busy on their way to recording 27 disposals.

The Season So Far

Box Hill – played ten, won eight, lost two – first on the VFL ladder; form W, W, W, L, W

Coburg – played ten, won five, lost five – 11th on the VFL ladder; form L, W, W, W, L

Box Hill were able to bounce back from defeat to Collingwood a fortnight ago to account for Frankston last weekend, moving provisionally into first place on the VFL ladder – albeit having played one more game than the second-placed Southport.

The win was set-up by a 7.0 to 2.2 first term and consolidated thereafter, with the Hawks winning every quarter on the day to record a 63-point win.

When Box Hill were last beaten the side responded superbly in the weeks which followed to account for Werribee, The Suns and Brisbane in, arguably, the team’s best run of form for the year. A win against Coburg would see Zane Littlejohn’s men hit a second bye of the season at nine-and-two.

As for Coburg, the boys from Bell St have had a very solid first half of the year. Having dropped the first three games 2025 campaign, the resurgent Lions sit in 11th place with a five-and-five record, just four points outside of the top six and an automatic finals berth.

A first win of the season came away to Williamstown in round 4 – a sensational 51-point win at Point Gellibrand – and was followed up by a 22-point victory over Carlton and a controversial one-point loss under lights against Frankston.

Back-to-back five goal wins over the Bullants and Sydney laid the foundation for their best performance and result of the year: a crushing 88-point victory over The Suns on the Gold Coast.

Last weekend they came up against a ruthless Footscray outfit, with the Dogs far too strong across the full four quarters en route to a 44-point win at Barry Plant Park.

Selection News

The Hawks have made three changes for the trip to Coburg, re-gaining the services of Jack Scrimshaw & Finn Maginness and handing a VFL debut to developing big man Jamie Uhr-Henry.

Calsher Dear has been managed ahead of the Hawks’ bye, while Henry Hustwaite’s fine performance last weekend has been rewarded with a senior re-call.

Young VFL-listed midfielder Blake Simondson is the unlucky magnet to be squeezed from the whiteboard.

One(s) To Watch

Box Hill’s midfield is better for having Finn Maginness running around chasing and, usually, winning the pill.

The Hawks’ no.20 has played 11 VFL matches since the start of 2024 and averages 29 touches in that time. In five of these hit-outs he’d won more than 30 disposals. On two of those occasions he’s had 38 and 39.

In his only state league match this year, the round 5 win over Port Melbourne in Wonthaggi, Maginness knocked up winning the ball, with his 38 touches comprised of 10 clearances, eight inside 50s and five score involvements – all game highs.

Ultra professional, super reliable and incredibly hard-working, Maginness always returns to the Box Hill side with an outstanding attitude keen to win back a place in Sam Mitchell’s senior outfit.

How To Follow

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

Where to Watch

You can catch the live stream via the VFL match centre.