Our History

1921: Box Hill Junior Football Club participated in local competition.

1923: Eastern Suburban Protestant Churches Football Association formed with two teams representing Box Hill; Box Hill United and Box Hill City.

1932: Eastern Suburban Football League formed with Box Hill City as a foundation member.

1936: Box Hill City amalgamated with Box Hill East to become the Box Hill Football Club.

1937: Box Hill moved to newly constructed Box Hill City Oval.

1940: Victorian Football Association comprised twelve Clubs and was a most powerful football body, rivalling the V.F.L. for popularity and drawcard players.

1950: Box Hill invited to field teams in the V.F.A. for the 1951 season.

1951: Box Hill Football Club made its debut in the V.F.A.

1956: Box Hill reaches the V.F.A. Finals for the first time, defeating Brunswick in the First Semi Final but losing to Williamstown in the Preliminary Final to finish 3rd.

1960 Between 1960 and 1968, Box Hill suffered financially being the only club unable to play Sunday Football at home due to Council restrictions.

1961: V.F.A. introduces Divisional Football. Box Hill is a foundation member of Division One but finishes last in 1961 to be relegated to Division Two for season 1962.

1965: Emblem the “Mustangs” was adopted by the Box Hill Football Club. When the Club joined the V.F.A. it was known as the “White Horses” and for a brief period during the mid-1960s was known as the “Stranglers”.

1968: Box Hill Football Club was financially stricken and unable to pay its players. Discussions were held with the Eastern Districts Football League with a view to returning to Junior Football. Box Hill Under 19s claims the Club’s first V.F.A. Premiership in any Grade.

1969: Box Hill gained permission to play Sunday home matches.

1970: Box Hill reaches the Grand Final for the first time, losing the Division Two Grand Final to Coburg.

1975: Box Hill changed its uniform to the current design; a brown jumper with two large gold panels on the front and the larger “wild Mustang” emblem centrally located.

1976: New Social Rooms were opened. Box Hill Under 19s claims the Premiership after going through the season undefeated, the only Box Hill team to achieve this feat.

1980: Committee decided to disband Box Hill Football Club due to the poor on-field situation, huge accumulated debts and lack of support. This decision was not carried at a General Meeting of the Club’s members. A new Committee, led by prominent local solicitor John Zigouras, took over administration of the Club.

1984: Mustangs dominated the V.F.A. Division Two Competition, claiming the premiership by 135 points against Oakleigh, 32.23 (215) to 11.14 (80). This remains a record score and winning margin in any Australian Football Senior Grand Final.

1986: Box Hill claims a 2nd V.F.A. Division Two Premiership, defeating Sunshine in the Grand Final 14.14(98) to 11.14(80).

1994: Box Hill Football Club finally contests a First Division Grand Final. Despite a gallant performance, it was defeated by Sandringham 11.12 (78) to 10.9 (69)

1995: Box Hill becomes one of nine V.F.A. Clubs invited by the Victorian State Football League to become a foundation Member of the newly formed V.F.L.

1998 A.F.L. and V.F.L. restructure Victorian Football by abolishing the AFL Reserves Competition for the 2000 season. A.F.L. teams would be invited to either field their own reserves teams in the V.F.L. or to form alignments with existing V.F.L. teams.

2000 Box Hill Mustangs establish an alliance with the Hawthorn Football Club to form the Box Hill Hawks.

2001 Box Hill Hawks win first ever V.F.L. Premiership after defeating Werribee 13.13 (91) to 7.12 (54). John Baird wins Norm Goss Medal for Best Player. This followed a season where the club won 15 out of its 20 Home and Away matches and finished second on the ladder at seasons end.

2002: Brand new administration and players facilities building officially opened. This was a combined venture between the City of Whitehorse, Football Victoria and the Hawthorn Football Club.

2003: Box Hill goes on a 13-game winning streak, to break the club’s all-time record of successive wins. The Club goes on to lose the Grand Final to Williamstown by 29 points.

2006 Box Hill Reserves claim their first-ever premiership, beating the undefeated and more fancied Williamstown, 10.11 (71) to 8.11 (59).

2007: New main spectator entry gates to Box Hill City Oval opened – the “Ron and Barbara Gibbs Entrance”.

2009: South Pavilion officially opened. It is licensed for 170 people and has two multi—purpose rooms and a full commercial. Box Hill Reserves claims its second Premiership, defeating Sandringham in the Grand Final 16.18 (114) to 13.8 (86).

2010: Box Hill Hawks Development team win back-to-back Premierships, defeating Williamstown in the Grand Final 17.20 (122) to 16.9 (105). Andrew Renton won the Fred Hill Medal for best on ground. The Grand Final was played at City Oval and was the first Box Hill team to win back-to-back Premierships.

2011 Box Hill Hawks Development team win a third consecutive Premiership, defeating Coburg in the Grand Final 18.10 (118) to 7.11 (53). Captain Luke Kitchin won the Fred Hill Medal for best on ground.

2012 Box Hill Hawks extend their alignment with Hawthorn FC for a further three years until end of 2014, making it the longest running VFL – AFL alignment. Box Hill Hawks adopt the traditional Hawthorn jumper for home matches and clash jumper for away matches. Box Hill Hawks Development Team reaches fourth consecutive Grand Final but defeated by Coburg 16.12 (108) to 15.11 (101).

2013: Box Hill Hawks defeat Geelong Cats in VFL Grand Final at Etihad Stadium in front on 15,100 spectators. Final Scores BHH 14.15.99 def Geelong 11.12.78. Jonathan Simpkin won the Norm Goss Medal for best player in the Grand Final. A week later he was played in Hawthorn’s premiership win. Hawthorn listed player Mitch Hallahan won the J.J. Liston Trophy

The Box Hill Hawks Development Team made the Grand Final for a fifth consecutive team. Against the heavy favorites Williamstown scores were level at fulltime with Williamstown winning by golden point.

2014: After finishing 4th on the ladder at the home and away season the Box Hill Hawks were runners up in VFL Grand Final at Etihad Stadium in front of 23,816 spectators the biggest VFL/VFA crowd since the 1978 Grand Final. Final Scores BHH 13.9 (87) defeated by Footscray 16.13 (109). Hawthorn listed player Sam Grimley tied for the Frosty Miller Medal for the most goals in a VFL season with 38. Hawthorn listed player Alex Woodward won the J.J Liston Trophy as the best player in the VFL.

The Box Hill Hawks Development side made their sixth consecutive Grand Final. They faced reigning premiers and heavy favourites Williamstown but fell just short. Final Scores BHH 13.13 (91) defeated by Williamstown 18.18 (126). Box Hill Hawks player Peter McEvoy kicked 56 goals for the season, 23 ahead of his nearest competitor to finish as the leading goal kicker in the development league. Peter would also go on to tie for the A. Todd medal as the best and fairest player in the AFL VIC Development league.

The club also competed in the Foxtel Cup for the first time taking on West Perth at Etihad Stadium.

2018: VFL Premiers – Box Hill Hawks defeated the Casey Demons 10.12 (72) to 8.14 (62) at Marvel Stadium.