Hawks And Bees Set To Shape Top Four
The Hawks and Werribee square off in the latest instalment of football’s rarest rivalry. So strange have the past few years of pandemics, postponements and VFL expansion been, the two sides have met just three times since 2019!
This Sunday they’ll play off with the prize for Box Hill being top four and the double chance, while victory will see Werribee lock away top spot.
Who: Werribee
Where: Box Hill City Oval
When: Sunday, 2:05pm
TV/Streaming: VFL live stream available via the VFL Match Centre.
Box Hill: played 17, won 12, lost 5 – 4th on the ladder
GWS Giants: played 17 won 14, lost 3 – 1st on the ladder
A Little Bit of History (since 1996)
Played 44 – Box Hill 16, Werribee 28
The Hawks and Werribee share a storied history in the 21st century, playing off in no fewer than seven finals and butting heads in high stakes, high quality contests year after year.
Just last season it was the Tigers who claimed a hard-fought Qualifying Final victory en route to a Grand Final appearance, while back in 2001 it was the Donald McDonald coached Hawks who sprung an almighty upset to claim the Club’s first senior flag at the expense of the all conquering Tigers.
Otherwise Werribee took the honours on 2019 Elimination Final day by 40-points and 2011 Elimination Final day by 26-points.
Aside from that wonderful day at Princes Park back in 2001, the brown and gold have tasted September success against this weeks opponents in back-to-back semi finals, holding on by a single point in 2003 and winning out by just eight points a year later, while a six-goal to two final term shut the door on the Bees and earned Box Hill a place in the 2013 Grand Final.
More recently the Hawks claimed a memorable come-from-behind win the last time the sides squared off at City Oval. Lead by Fergus Greene’s six goals and 29 touches from the hard-running Tom Phillips, Box Hill booted the last four goals of the afternoon – including two in the final 90 seconds – to run out seven point winners.
2023 So Far
In recent weeks Box Hill have put together arguably their best run of form since starting the season at four-and-one, picking off three wins on the trot to re-ignite their top four hopes.
Having fallen to Port Melbourne in Round 14, the Hawks saw off the Cats in an exhilarating clash at City Oval, before a disappointing defeat to Southport up on the Gold Coast.
With the Club’s top six hopes in jeopardy and a mounting injury toll threatening to further derail a once promising campaign, Box Hill accounted for North Melbourne, Williamstown and the Giants in successive weeks to both book a guaranteed finals berth and set up an opportunity to finish top four.
Having navigated the 2023 home and away season 16-2, Werribee’s 2024 record reads 14-3 with one to play. So strong has their form been, the Tigers have lost just once sit recording back-to-back defeats in rounds four and five – a upset loss against Southport at Chirnside Park two weeks ago.
Their average winning margin is 35 points and they boast the competition’s best defence – conceding only 59-points on average.
A Day of Celebration
The Box Hill Hawks will proudly celebrate the Club’s 1984 VFA Second Division premiers on Sunday, and will wear the famous Mustang heritage guernsey as members of the premiership team watch on upstairs.
In beating Oakleigh 32.23 215 to 11.14 80, the ‘Stangs set two VFA records that afternoon: recording the highest-ever score in a Grand Final and, subsequently, the greatest-ever winning margin on Grand Final Day.
Beyond Blue Cup
As is custom when the Hawks and Tigers meet, the two sides will contest the Beyond Blue Cup.
Its an initiative which stretches back well over a decade now and aims to bring attention to the wonderful work done in the community by Beyond Blue, as well as create conversations around depression and anxiety for those who may need assistance.
AFL Unity Cup
We’re thrilled to be hosting Chinese teams for the upcoming AFL Unity Cup in a pre-match training session.
Now in its 17th year, the Unity Cup brings together footy fans from diverse cultural backgrounds for a series of annual tournaments, with the next being staged in September.
The session will run from midday to 1:15pm, with gates opening at 12pm to accomodate participants and anyone keen to come down!
Selection News
Zane Littlejohn and his match committee have made six changes to the 23 which held on so gallantly two weeks ago against the Giants, losing a trio of players to injury, one to soreness and another to an AFL call-up.
Bailey Macdonald will miss due to a knock sustained against the GWS, while Tyler Brown’s season is sadly over after rupturing his achilles late in the first quarter of the round 19 win.
Ben Cavarra aggravated a grumbly hamstring late in the match at Blacktown and will be monitored in the coming weeks, and is joined on the sidelines by Chad Wingard, who has been managed.
Cam Mackenzie’s excellent performance against the Giants has been rewarded with senior selection, while Billy Hicks, the Hawks’ most recent 23rd man, has been omitted.
Into the 23 come a quartet of developing VFL-listed players, including half-back duo Kye Agosta and Nathan Philactides, running machine Andrew Mathieson and crafty small forward Andreas Stefanakis.
They’re joined by midfielder Josh Ward, who rejoins the Box Hill group following a stint in the AFL set-up, and 2024 draft hopeful Christian Moraes.
A 182cm mid-forward out of Eastern Ranges, Moraes has enjoyed an excellent 2024 campaign in both the Coates League and with Vic Metro.
One(s) to Watch
While certainly excited to see Moraes strut his stuff in the brown and gold, a player who has performed consistently throughout 2024 is Max Ramsden.
Picked up by Hawthorn in the 2022 mid-season draft, ‘Ramma’ has developed into an exciting prospect in both the ruck and as a marking forward.
The one-time Sandringham Dragon has become a reliable and integral member of the Hawks’ key position brigade the longer the season has gone and will be keen to test himself against the VFL’s best on Sunday.
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!
