Preview: Hawks Ready For Final Round Showdown

Box Hill’s 2025 home and away season draws to a close on Sunday afternoon, with the ladder-leading Hawks traveling out to Casey Fields to tackle the eighth-placed Demons.

Who: Casey
Where:  Casey Fields
When: Sunday at 1:05pm
TV/Streaming: live stream available via the VFL Match Centre

Past Five Meetings

Round 1, 2024: Casey 6.10 46 def. by Box Hill 12.15 87
Round 6, 2023: Box Hill 11.10 76 def. by Casey 16:10 106
Round 6, 2022: Box Hill 11.6 72 def. by Casey 10.19 79
Round 1, 2021: Box Hill 10.7 67 def. by Casey 17.16 118
Round 13, 2019: Casey 12.12 84 def. Box Hill 7.8 50

A Little Bit of History

Played 44 (since 1996) – Box Hill 18, Casey 26

In a fixture quirk Sunday’s final round showdown between the Hawks and Demons will be the team’s first meeting since opening the 2024 VFL season.

Box Hill got the four points on that day out at Casey Fields, snapping a four-game losing run against the Demons and recording a first victory against the red and the blue since 2019.

Zane Littlejohn’s men set up the season-opening win with a barnstorming first quarter, kicking 5.6 to Casey’s 1.3 with the wind at their backs, before keeping their hosts at bay in the second to lose the frame by just five-points into the breeze.

22-points up at the half, the Hawks kicked 4.4 to 1.1 in the third and controlled proceedings in the final quarter to run out 41-point winners.

Cal Porter was the highest ranked player on the ground on account of his 22 disposal, six clearance, eight tackle, five mark performance, while Cal Brown tallied 29 touches, Harry Morrison amassed 28 touches and 10 marks and Henry Hustwaite compiled 24 disposals and eight clearances.

Sam Butler was superb with three goals from 21 touches, while Lloyd Meek kicked two goals from 15 touches and 26 hit-outs.

Prior to that fine and sunny March afternoon at Casey Fields, the Demons’ run of four wins on the spin included a confident victory in the Hawks’ first home game in Wonthaggi back in 2023 and a 2022 heart-stopper at Box Hill City Oval.

Otherwise the two clubs have met twice in September – the 2001 Qualifying Final and the 2018 Grand Final – with the Hawks securing hard-fought victories on both occasions.

The Season So Far

Box Hill – played 17, won 14, lost three – first on the VFL ladder; form W, W, W, W, L

Casey – played 17, won 10, lost six, drawn one – eighth on the VFL ladder; form L, W, W, W, W

Box Hill succumbed to a first loss in eight last weekend, surrendering a seven-match winning streak to an efficient and in form Footscray – who in beating the Hawks secured a 10th VFL win in succession.

The result sees the the two teams tied away at 14-3 on the season and in a straight shootout to claim the minor premiership with just one match to play. 

Box Hill hold a slight advantage on percentage – some 4.3% all told – and will hope to match the Dogs result against Carlton to win a third minor premiership in Club history.

The Demons have plenty to play for as well, having put together a strong run of recent form to catapult into finals calculations.

Casey sit eighth on the VFL ladder, but could finish as high as fifth if other results go their way. They’ve won their way into the wildcard positions on account of a four-point win over the fifth-placed Brisbane, a 63-point win over  the 19th-placed Sandringham, a 108-point win over the 13th-placed Carlton and a 76-point victory over Werribee in recent weeks.

Their last loss came at the hands of a resurgent Coburg, who came from 20-points down at half-time to snatch a three-point win at Casey Fields back in Round 15.

Selection News

Having dropped a first match since round 10 last time out, the Hawks have made four changes in an attempt to finish the home and away season on a winning note.

Into the mix comes AFL-listed duo Sam Frost and Cody Anderson, who have each overcome knocks in time for the trip to Casey, while the VFL-listed pairing of Sam Durdin and Tom Farrer join them in the 23-man squad.

Durdin had been named to play last weekend before falling ill late in the piece, while Old Scotch’s Farrer will make his VFL debut.

From the team beaten by the Dogs last weekend to Billy Hicks, Daniel Wood, Blake Simondson and Lachy Dovaston.

One(s) To Watch

Fresh of VFL career goals 199, 200 and 201, I’d recommend keeping an eye on Ben Cavarra.

The five-time VFL team of the year member is winding back the clock in a hybrid mid-forward role of late, pushing up to the contest, working back to goal and hitting the scoreboard.

Classy and creative, the left footer kicked three of Box Hill’s seven goals last weekend, showing he’s lost none of his touch around the big sticks.

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 at 3WBC 94.1FM

Where To Watch

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