Hawks Bounce Into Arden Street For Roos Test
The Hawks return to action on Saturday afternoon at Arden Street, hoping to atone for a disappointing display last weekend and secure the win which will keep their top four hopes alive.
Their opponents, the Kangaroos, have been in a rich vein of form of late and have moved onto the lip of the competition’s top 10 and a wildcard spot, setting up a superb round 17 match-up.
Who: North Melbourne
Where: Arden Street
When: Saturday, 2:05pm
TV/Streaming: VFL live stream available via the VFL Match Centre.
Box Hill: played 14, won 9, lost 5 – 6th on the ladder
Southport: played 14 won 7, lost 7 – 11th on the ladder
A Little Bit of History
Played 6 – Box Hill 4, North Melbourne 2
Saturday will be the sixth time Box Hill has squared off against the standalone North Melbourne – and the second time in 2024.
Having joined the competition under their own flag and in their own colours in 2018 the Roos won the first two battles against the Hawks – by 36 and two points, respectively – only for the boys in brown and gold to bounce back and claim the next four.
Since round 5, 2021 Box Hill have taken the honours by 108, 71, five and 60 points, the last of which took place at Box Hill City Oval in round four of 2024.
Those with good memories will fondly recall the 108-point win at City Oval back in 2021, a day in which Sam Mitchell’s men laid on 16 goals in the second half, including 10 without reply in a pulsating final term to run away convincing winners.
Josh Morris starred with five majors, while Brayden Kilpatrick amassed 34 touches and Daniel Howe was excellent in tallying 37 disposals. It was also Jai Newcombe’s second-to-last VFL appearance before being drafted by the Hawks.
When the sides last met it was the midfield trio of Max Hall, Josh Ward and Cal Brown who took the plaudits, sharing 91 disposals and four goals in a dominant display.
Hall was in fine touch on his way to an equal game-high 32 touches and two goals, while Ward kicked two himself from 27 possessions. For his part, Brown also won 32 disposals and brought his trademark dash from half-back.
Calsher Dear’s four goals came from 15 touches and five marks, while Sam Butler was similarly damaging with three majors from 18 disposals.
The Hawks won an arm wrestle of a first quarter by just three points, before gradually pulling away in quarters two, three and four. In fact. Box Hill’s lead was just 22-points at the 29 minute mark of the third term.
A late Dear goal provided some much needed breathing room, before Butler and Ward kicked crucial goals early in the final term to seal the four points.
2023 So Far
The Hawks saw a promising run of form come to an end last weekend, defeated by fellow top four aspirants Southport in Queensland to record a second loss in three weeks.
Beaten out of the gate by a hungry Sharks outfit, Box Hill trailed by as much as seven goals in the second quarter, before chipping away at the deficit to draw within 21-points late in the third term.
Sadly, the comeback didn’t eventuate, with the hosts piling on six goals to one in the final quarter to confirm a 53-point win.
Jai Serong, Cal Porter and Josh Bennetts were standouts on a day in which the Hawks boasted few winners, while young small forward Andreas Stefanakis was his side’s only multiple goal kicker.
The loss comes at the end of a run in which Box Hill has seen off the Giants by 68-points and the Tigers by 37-points, lost a nail-biter to Port Melbourne and pipped Geelong at the post.
The last start loss to the Sharks leaves the Hawks in an equal-parts precarious and promising place on the VFL ladder. At nine-and-five Zane Littlejohn’s side are a game and percentage out of third place, inside the six on percentage and two games and percentage inside the wildcard spots.
This week’s opponent are percentage outside of the wildcard positions, requiring a win to keep their September hopes alive.
The Roos have revitalised their 2024 campaign with four wins from their last five outings – a run which has put them hot on the heels of the 10th placed Frankston and within touching distance of the aforementioned wildcard.
They’ve become the masters of the close finish in this time, beating Coburg & Casey by six-points and the Swans by five-points just last weekend.
The only blot on their copybook in this time was defeat at the hands of the second-placed Footscray.
Selection News
The Hawks have made four changes to the side which lost last time out against Southport, gaining the services of Harry Morrison, Jaylon Thorpe, Jake Arundell and Billy Hicks.
Morrison’s return affords the side great experience and class, while Thorpe is a plug and play option at either end of the field.
In Arundell and debutant Hicks, the Hawks have two live-wire ins which will provide quality ball use, creativity, run and carry.
Ben Cavarra will miss this weekend at a minimum with a slight hamstring strain, while Finn Maginness has been elevated to the senior side for Hawthorn’s MCG blockbuster against Collingwood, younger brother Ned has been omitted and Daniel Wood misses with illness.
Stu Horner retains his place in the side.
One(s) to Watch
It has to be the debutant at the returning favourite, doesn’t it? Billy Hicks will make his state league debut, with Jake Arundell returning to the Club and the side following a stint with South Adelaide in the SANFL.
Arundell had forced his way into the Box Hill line-up in the back end of the 2023 season, playing five of the Hawks’ final six games of the campaign – including all three finals.
Having re-committed to the brown and gold in the off-season “Snake” was offered and encouraged to take up an opportunity in the SANFL with South Adelaide. After a strong start with the Panthers the crafty small forward unfortunately broke his arm and sought a return home during his recovery.
Having completed his rehabilitation at Box Hill, Arundell made a successful return via Rowville’s reserves last weekend and suits up for a second debut as a Mustang on Saturday.
Billy Hicks, meanwhile, looms as an exciting addition as he makes his VFL bow at Arden Street.
Quick and an excellent ball user, Hicks, like Arundell in 2023, has had to patiently wait for an opportunity and is well placed to showcase his weapons against the Roos.
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!
VFL live stream available via the VFL Match Centre.
Membership
It might be late in the season, but it’s never too late to support the mighty Box Hill Hawks and, as always, membership is the best way to do it!
You can purchase your 2024 Box Hill Hawks membership via this link.
