Big Fish in the Development Sea

Photo credit: Jenny Owens

Undefeated after eight games in the Development League and conceding an astoundingly-low 49 points-per-game, there’s a new a big fish growing in the Box Hill defence by the name of Joseph Fisher.

The 20-year-old Hawk has been enjoying his second season with the club, as he makes his senior debut for the Hawks this Saturday against North Ballarat.

“It’s been going pretty good so far [this season],” Fisher said.

“I’ve started well in what’s now my second year, I’m a bit more confident in the way I’m playing and working well with the guys down back.

“Having played a full year last year, it’s made it easier to become more involved in the club and be more of a leader on field through conveying messages and setting up structures.”

With the Hawks boasting one of the best defensive groups in the VFL, Fisher is not short of a mentor or two, identifying Captain David Mirra and Sam Collins as tow players who have aided in his development.

“David Mirra’s definitely been one of my big mentors,” Fisher said.

“He’s the figurehead down back and the Captain of the club. He’s where you want to be as a player and is an example of ‘work hard and it will pay off for you’, so he’s always nurtured me down back.

“This year it’s also been Sam Collins now, who has been playing consistently in the ones and is a spearhead in our defence.

“I really look up to those two guys.”

Originally recruited from the Eastern Ranges, Fisher credits the club with being the primary reason for why he continued to push himself to his limits.

“They were pretty big in my development [Eastern Ranges], in my TAC Cup year we ended up winning the grand final,” Fisher said.

“I was down there with Tommy Humphries who’s now here as a coach at Box Hill.

“If I didn’t play with Eastern Ranges, I would probably be playing local level at the moment and wouldn’t be pushing myself to play at the highest level I could.”

Outside of football, Fisher fills his time studying and on the greens.

“I’m in my third year of studying exercise sports science and I love playing a bit of golf and having a friend who works at a golf club, it saves me a bit of money.”

Fisher and the Hawks will take on North Ballarat this Saturday at Box Hill City Oval from 12pm.