Preview: Hawks Host Dolphins

Box Hill are back on home soil this weekend, searching for the perfect response to a disappointing loss last time out.

The Hawks host the Frankston for the first time in nearly seven years on Saturday and will look to secure an 18th consecutive win against the Dollies.

Who: Frankston
Where: Box Hill City Oval
When: Saturday, 2:05pm
TV/Streaming: Live stream available via the VFL Match Centre

Past Five Meetings

Round 22, 2023: Frankston 10.6 66 defeated by Box Hill 16.9 105
Round 20, 2022: Frankston 8.5 53 defeated by Box Hill 16.8 104
Round 15, 2019: Frankston 13.6 84 defeated by Box Hill 14.18 102
Round 11, 2018: Box Hill 15.21 111 defeated Frankston 7.6 48
Round 2, 2018: Frankston 9.10 64 defeated by Box Hill 14.19 103

50 Up For The Coach!

Senior Coach Zane Littlejohn takes the reins of the Mustangs for the 50th time this weekend, having first coached the Box Hill Hawks back in round 1, 2023 – a 27-point win over Sydney.

The Tasmanian joined from Brisbane in the final months of 2022 and has a 34-15 win-loss record through his first 49 matches at the helm, good enough for a winning percentage just shy of 70%.

A Little Bit of History

Played 27 (since 2000) – Box Hill 22, Frankston 4, 1 draw

The Hawks and Dolphins didn’t square off in 2024 and last went head-to-head in the final round of 2023.

On a Friday night in mid-August down in Frankston it was Box Hill who were victorious, notching a 17th consecutive win against this weekend’s opponent.

A point behind at quarter time, the team in brown and gold booted 6.4 while keeping the hosts scoreless in the second frame, setting up a relatively straightforward 39-point win.

The Dolphins rallied in the third and closed the gap to 21-points at the final change, but with the win at their backs in the fourth the Hawks were able to kick away.

Lloyd Meek was enormous on the night, winning 26 touches, kicking three goals, having 41 hit outs and eight clearances.

Cam Mackenzie finished the contest with 25 disposals 11 tackles, Bailey Macdonald was at his rebounding best to tally 22 touches, while Cooper Stephens lead all-comers in the clinches to claim nine clearances.

11 Hawks kicked goals on the night, including doubles from Rowville pair Jake Arundell and Lachlan Wynd.

All told the Hawks haven’t lost to Frankston since round 19, 2007, some 2,547 days ago; meanwhile, the sides haven’t played at Box Hill City Oval since round 11, 2018 – 2,547 days ago.

The Season So Far

Box Hill – played nine, won seven, lost two – second on the VFL ladder; form L, W, W, W, L

Frankston – played eight, won five, lost three – 11th on the VFL ladder; form W, L, W, L, W

The Hawks fell to a second loss on the season last weekend, coming up 17-points short of an impressive Collingwood outfit at Box Hill City Oval.

The Club’s two losses bookend an excellent stretch of footy in which Box Hill accounted for Werribee, Gold Coast and Brisbane and leaves the side half-a-game adrift of the table topping Southport.

The Dollies sit 11th on five wins, but are a just four points off a share of third spot with a game in hand.

They accounted for Port Melbourne in a tricky, low scoring slugfest in round two, dropped the follow-up to Williamstown by 11-points the following week, before returning home to see off the challenge of Richmond in their next assignment.

A 44-point win against the Northern Bullants came next, before a 39-point reverse against Werribee.

A nail biting one-point win against Coburg in round seven got the Dolphins back on track, only for Southport to get the better of them up north in round nine.

A last start victory over Sandringham is sure to give the Dolphins some confidence as they roll into Box Hill looking for back-to-back wins for the first time since rounds four and five.

Selection News

Zane Littlejohn and his match committee have made five changes for the visit of Frankston, re-gaining a talented and developing trio in Cody Anderson, Matt Hill and Lane Ward.

They’re joined among the ins by Blackburn’s Billy Hicks, who is named to play his first VFL game of the season and his first match at the level since rounds 17, 18 and 19 of 2024.

Luke Breust is the big ticket addition and will play his first minutes of football since the Hawks’ win against Melbourne in round 10. The three-time premiership hero was instrumental in Box Hill’s round one victory at Carlton, booting three vital goals in a four-point result.

Out of the side go Seamus Mitchell, Sam Butler and Max Ramsden – who all figured in Hawthorn’s win over the Bulldogs on Thursday night – and Bodie Ryan, who unfortunately suffered a nasty injury in a sickening clash against the Magpies. Last among the omissions is Drouin’s Seb Amoroso, who is squeezed out on balance.

One(s) To Watch

Rugby League convert Matt Hill returns to the side having missed the win over Brisbane and last week’s loss to Collingwood with an ankle knock.

Hill sustained the injury early in the Hawks’ win on the Gold Coast, playing out the game on virtually one leg and kicking two classy goals.

Pacy, creative and hard as nails, Hill’s elusiveness and ability to turn a half chance into a six-pointer could give the Hawks an extra avenue to goal on what might well be a wet day.

How To Follow

Match coverage will be provided via our social channels throughout the match, 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.