Preview: City Oval Set For Summit Meeting
For the second year in succession the VFL fixture pits the Hawks and Bulldogs against one another while the two sides occupy first and second place on the ladder.
When the teams clashed at Whitten Oval early in the 2024 season it was the Dogs who sat atop the table as Box Hill rolled into town; this weekend it’s the first-placed Hawks who’ll be out to beat the ‘Scray and, in doing so, secure a third minor premiership in Club history.
But it’s not the only big match at City Oval on Saturday! Box Hill’s VFLW side hosts a win-or-go-home Elimination Final against Essendon to kick things off from 11:35am.
Who: Essendon (VFLW), Footscray (VFL)
Where: Fenjiu Stadium, Box Hill
When: Saturday – VFLW @ 11:35am; VFL @ 2:05pm
TV/Streaming: live stream available via the VFL Match Centre
Double Header
As mentioned above theres two blockbuster matches for the price of one on Saturday.
Having finished third on the competition ladder at the conclusion of the home and away season, our VFLW side won the right to host the sixth-placed Essendon in an Elimination Final.
The teams have met twice in 2025 and each claimed one win over the other, setting up an exciting showdown for the right to stay alive in 2025.
Box Hill got the better of Essendon back in round seven, winning out by 17-points at Windy Hill, before the Dons returned the favour with a 22-point victory in round 12 at City Oval.
In VFL action it’s first versus second as the Hawks welcome the Dogs to Fenjiu Stadium.
Past Five Meetings
Round 6, 2024: Footscray 10.13 73 def. Box Hill 9.6 60
2023 2nd Semi Final: Box Hill 14.11 95 def. Footscray 10.15 75
Round 21, 2023: Box Hill 8.8 56 def. by Footscray 11.10 76
Round 14, 2022: Footscray 14.10 94 def. Box Hill 6.10 46
Round 6, 2019: Box Hill 12.12 84 drew with Footscray 12.12 84
A Little Bit of History
Played 12 (since 2014) – Box Hill 6, Footscray 5, 1 draw
The Hawks and Dogs have met just 12 times in VFL action since the ‘Scray entered the competition under the ‘Bulldogs’ banner back in 2014.
While the Hawks edge the head-to-head six wins to five overall and two wins to one in September – having won the 2015 Qualifying Final and 2023 Semi-Final – the Dogs boast victory in the big one… the 2014 Grand Final.
On a tight, tense and hard-fought day at Marvel Stadium scores were tied at quarter time, Footscray lead by a point at half-time and Box Hill held a six-point lead at the final change.
Sadly, the toll of losing a few players throughout the contest told in the end and the Hawks wilted in the final term to lose by 22-points.
The brown and gold acted a small measure of revenge the next year, winning the round one rematch and that season’s Qualifying Final against Footscray.
Box Hill claimed an entertaining two-point win in the opening round of 2017 and the teams combined to play out a draw on the MCG in 2019 – a match which featured Hawks’ legend Jarryd Roughead rolling around for the ‘Stangs.
More recently the two clubs met on Semi-Final day in 2023.
Box Hill lead at every change and withstood a late Dogs’ charge to claim a 20-point win and advance to a Preliminary Final date with eventual premiers Gold Coast the following week.
Last year the Hawks and Footscray butted heads just once, in round six at Whitten Oval.
On a strange ol’ day at the kennel there was just the one goal kicked in the first quarter, the Dogs scooted away to a 31-point lead in the second, the Hawks fought back to get to within 13-points at the last change and a three-goal to one opening salvo opened up a 27-point gap as we ticked into time on.
But a sensational Box Hill burst returned 3.2 between the 25 and 31 minute marks to trim the margin to just six-points. Sadly there was one more goal to be kicked, but it came from the boot of Bulldog Anthony Scott and iced the game.
Cal Brown was magnificent for the Hawks, winning 35 touches and kicking two goals in a best afield display, while Max Hall was similarly impressive with 31 disposals & 10 clearances.
Ethan Phillips took a game-high 15 marks in defence, while former Bulldog Cal Porter tallied 21 touches, nine tackles and three clearances in a good outing for the skipper.
The Season So Far
Box Hill – played 16, won 14, lost two – first on the VFL ladder; form W, W, W, W, W
Footscray – played 16, won 13, lost three – second on the VFL ladder; form W, W, W, W, W
The Hawks’ win against Southport last weekend was their seventh in succession and confirmed both a finals berth and a top two finish.
If Zane Littlejohn’s charges claim a 15th victory on the season on Saturday it’ll set Club record for wins in an 18-game season and deliver the ‘Stangs a third minor premiership.
The Hawks sit a game clear of the Bulldogs and boast the best percentage in the VFL, the no.2 ranked offence and the no.2 ranked defence.
Victory over the Sharks last time out helped both Box Hill and the Bulldogs, affording each side some breathing room on the chasing pack.
Jasper Scaife, Max Ramsden and Jake Arundell kicked three apiece on the day, while Sam Frost added a double of his own.
Changkuoth Jiath was busy an impactful out of defensive 50, tallying 24 touches and taking nine marks, well fellow defender Jai Serong won 25 disposals and
Footscray are on a nine-match winning streak and sit a game-and-a-half clear of Southport. Win on Saturday and the Bulldogs will lock away a top two finish and keep the race for the minor premiership alive with just one more game to play.
Lead by the experienced and respected Stewart Edge, Footscray boast the no.1 ranked defence int he VFL and sit equal fifth in attack.
Basically, Saturday’s showdown is two teams in top form sitting atop of the VFL ladder. It promises to be a good one.
Selection News
Zane Littlejohn and his match committee have made five changes to the side which successfully accounted for Southport last time out, regaining Seamus Mitchell, Sam Durdin, Ben Cavarra, Billy Hicks and Eastern Ranges prospect Lachy Dovaston – who has been named to make his state league debut.
The five omissions are comprised of Sam Frost, Changkuoth Jiath, Jack Sammartino, Nathan Philactides and Will Kellar.
Frost will miss due to a minor knock picked up during the week, Jiath was elevated to the seniors for Thursday’s win over Collingwood and the young trio of Sammartino, Philactides and Kellar have each been omitted on balance.
One(s) To Watch
Cam Mackenzie has been in fine form since linking up with the Box Hill squad three weeks ago, winning 27 touches, seven inside 50s and seven clearances in the 10-point come-from-behind win over Williamstown, before following up with 28 touches, five clearances and five marks in the 44-point victory over Southport.
The smooth moving, quick thinking, highly skilled midfielder will be looking to press his case for a senior recall with another fine showing on Saturday.
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 at 3WBC 94.1FM
Where To Watch
You can catch the live stream via the VFL match centre.
