MATCH PREVIEW: VFL Round 15
WHERE: Trevor Barker Beach Oval, Sandringham
WHEN: Sunday, 2pm
COVERAGE: 3WBC Radio – 94.1FM
LAST FIVE MEETINGS
Round 19, 2016: Sandringham 9.15 (69) defeated by Box Hill Hawks 13.13 (91) at Trevor Barker Beach Oval
Round 1, 2016: Box Hill Hawks 18.10 (118) defeated Sandringham 12.9 (81) at Box Hill City Oval
Preliminary Final, 2015: Box Hill Hawks 12.17 (89) defeated Sandringham 12.10 (82) at North Port Oval
Round 6, 2015: Sandringham 11.12 (78) defeated by Box Hill Hawks 14.17 (101) at Trevor Barker Beach Oval
Round 2, 2014: Box Hill Hawks 15.14 (104) drew with Sandringham 14.20 (104) at Box Hill City Oval
FORM
Round 10:
Box Hill lost to Casey (H) by 26
Sandringham lost to Coburg (H) by 25
Round 11:
Box hill defeated Northern Blues (A) by 26
Sandringham defeated Werribee (H) by 6
Round 12:
Box Hill lost to Williamstown (H) by 45
Sandringham lost to Footscray (H) by 39
Round 13:
Box Hill defeated North Ballarat (H) by 52
Sandringham defeated Port Melbourne (A) by 8
Round 14:
Box Hill defeated Werribee (H) by 45
Sandringham defeated Geelong (A) by 27
SUMMARY
The first placed Hawks travel to Sandringham to tackle the ninth placed Zebras, but lately in the VFL there’s just as much action off the field as there is on it.
The Frankston Dolphins submitted an application for re-entry into the VFL, the alignment between North Melbourne and Werribee will end come seasons end and the development league will be bid adieu with it.
Our opponents this week, Sandringham, are expected to end their alignment with St. Kilda when 2017 draws to a close, with senior Zebras figures recommending the two clubs draw the curtain on a partnership that has been in place since 2009.
The influence of all these decisions (and some that are yet to come, I’m sure) will be varied and far reaching, impacting all who participate in VFL football now and in the future.
No such politicking in the halls of Waverley Park and Box Hill City Oval, with all as it has been since 2000 (the longest running VFL-AFL alignment, just FYI).
As the song suggests, “we’re a happy team.”
After a tricky patch post-bye, Chris Newman’s side have returned to winning ways in the last fortnight, comfortably accounting for Werribee and North Ballarat in a bid to capture the all-important double chance come finals time.
Sandringham have done likewise these past two weeks as they cling to the top eight, notching impressive away wins against Port Melbourne and Geelong. Twelfth just two weeks ago, those all-important wins have edged the Zebs to the cusp of finals footy.
TALKING POINTS
1. HALF MEASURES
Box Hill sit first on the VFL ladder, holding a half-a-win, two-point advantage over the blue and gold of Williamstown.
Sandringham find themselves outside the eight by just half a percent. Half of one percent!
How thin the line between success and nothing; how great the stakes and opportunities in this most open and even VFL season. The context and permutations of one match and its result ripple across the competition ladder.
The result of this match could well prove season defining. No pressure. Come the close of play one side will be much better off, the other in need of the quickest of quick turnarounds next week.
2. AROUND THE GROUNDS
There’s a match of equal significance just 24-hours prior to the Hawks’ showdown with Sandy at Trevor Barker Beach Oval.
The second placed Williamstown host the third placed Footscray and at the final siren Box Hill will know precisely what a win the following day will mean.
If the ‘Gulls get up the Hawks have to get the four points to return to the summit. If the Doggies get the job done Box Hill will have six-points worth of breathing room to the chasing pack, the largest advantage they’d have held since round 8.
With four games to play following the completion of round 15, theres so, so much on the line for every Club with designs on finals football.
3. THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT
One of – no, the – most pleasing aspect of Box Hill’s 2017 season has been the fresh VFL-listed talent unearthed and unleashed on the VFL competition.
This past week AFL Victoria’s board ratified the suggestion of it’s executive to disband the Vic Development League effective the end of the season.
It’s a competition that’s been a fertile breeding ground for Box Hill in recent times, with the club having contested the last nine (yes, nine) development deciders, winning five of them.
Understandably, theres some talent in there.
A look at the extended squad that was named for last years romp of a Grand Final win over Casey shows a number of Hawks that fans have come to know and love.
Ayden Kennedy (7 senior games in 2017), Billy Murphy (5), Aaron Bond (5), Nick Evans (14), Sam Gibson (5), Joe Fisher (7), Anthony Brolic (14), Sam Switkowski (8), Mitch O’Donnell (1 – returned from injury last weekend), Xavier Dimasi (2), Stuart Horner (2), Jordan Walker (4) and Brayden Kilpartrick (1 – debuted last weekend) have all made the transition from Vic Development in 2016 to senior football this season.
Opportunity is all a football player needs. The above Box Hill youngsters cut their teeth in the development league and have all made the step up to a higher grade of football, endorsing the program at Box Hill, the work of the coaching staff and the efforts of the players themselves.
