Preview: Hawks Host Pies

Box Hill enjoyed playing footy at City Oval so much last weekend they’ll be back to do it all again this Saturday!

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

Past Five Meetings

Round 4, 2023: Box Hill 17.12 114 defeated Collingwood 8.7 55
Round 1, 2022: Collingwood 18.4 112 defeated Box Hill 17.8 110
Round 16, 2021: Collingwood 9.6 60 defeated by Box Hill 18.15 123
Round 21, 2019: Box Hill 11.10 76 defeated Collingwood 7.15 57
Round 8, 2019: Collingwood 12.7 79 defeated Box Hill 9.11 65

A Little Bit of History

Played 19 – Box Hill 10, Collingwood 9

The two sides have had a somewhat stop-start rivalry of late, playing each other just three times since 2019 on account of COVID and the peculiarities of the VFL fixture.

The last time the Hawks and Magpies played at the VFL level was in round 4, 2023 at Box Hill City Oval – a match ultimately won in convincing fashion by the home side.

Two late goals from Max Hall and Max Ramsden handed the Hawks a 14-point advantage at quarter time, but the team in brown and gold blew the contest apart in the second frame, kicking eight goals to two to establish a match-winning lead.

Six-pointers from Lachie Bramble, Jaylon Thorpe and Josh Bennetts arrived at the two, five and seven minute mark of the second term; and four more followed between the 13 and 23 minute marks.

A four goal to one third term put the result beyond doubt, before the final term played out without incident.

Former Magpie Cal Brown was sensational in brown and gold, amassing 38 touches and nine clearances, while skipper Cal Porter chipped in with 33, seven clearances and a goal of his own.

Max Ramsden and Jaylon Thorpe did the majority of the damage in front of goal, kicking four and three goals on the day, with future Saint Max Hall adding two.

The Hawks’ best run of form against the Magpies is four wins on the spin (between round 17, 2010 and round 17, 2012), while Collingwood’s winningest stretch against Box Hill is, similarly, four victories without reply (between round 13, 2013 and round 20, 2016).

The Season So Far

Box Hill – played eight, won seven, lost one – first on the VFL ladder; form W, L, W, W, W

Collingwood – played eight, won five, lost three – seventh on the VFL ladder; form W, L, W, W, L

Having rattled off four wins in succession to start the 2025 campaign, Box Hill were upset by Richmond in round six.

Since that night at Frankston the Hawks have responded superbly to recored away wins at Werribee and the Gold Coast, before returning to Box Hill to take on and ultimately take down the Brisbane Lions last weekend – a run of results which has propelled the Hawks to half-a-game clear atop the VFL ladder.

As many as 28-points in arrears early in the game, Zane Littlejohn’s men settled after quarter time to equalise the contest, before setting up the victory with a three goal burst to start the final term.

Sam Butler was extraordinary on his way to 42 touches and a goal and was ably supported in the ball-winning stakes by Seamus Mitchell (36 and a goal), Henry Hustwaite (35) and Trent Bianco (29).

Livewire half-forward Jake Arundell was at his opportunistic best, kicking three goals from 11 touches.

Collingwood sit seventh on the table having recorded a five-and-three start to their season.

Wins against Sydney (H), Coburg (A), Essendon (N), The Bullants (A) and a magnificent 11-point win over the at-the-time undefeated Giants at Victoria Park sit alongside a one-point loss to Brisbane in Brisbane and big defeats to the Bulldogs and North Melbourne.

A series of key omissions from the Magpies’ senior side will have filtered down to their VFL outfit, no doubt playing a part in the 72-point margin last weekend against the Roos.

With several of those big names expected to return to the AFL side ahead of Friday night’s blockbuster against Hawthorn, we can expect to see a stronger Collingwood this weekend.

Including, potentially, one-time Hawks Tom Mitchell, Josh Bennetts, Brady Grey, Ben De Bolfo and Iliro Smit.

Selection News

Zane Littlejohn and his match committee have made a whopping seven changes to the team which beat Brisbane last weekend, re-gaining a slew of proven performers at the VFL level ahead of Collingwood’s visit.

Ruckman Ned Reeves returns to the mix following a couple of weeks away, as does Noah Mraz and Ethan Stanley who are out of concussion protocols in time to take their places.

Will McCabe and Cal Porter are also among the ins, with both having missed the win over Brisbane following good runs of recent form.

Cam Mackenzie will look to showcase his undoubted quality in a bid to make a swift return to Hawthorn’s senior set-up, while Seb Amoroso makes his first appearance at the level since the round two win over North Melbourne. The former Gippsland Power product has been in excellent touch for his local club Drouin.

To accomodate these ins the Hawks lose Cody Anderson, Sam Durdin and Lane Ward – who have each been managed – and the developing quartet comprised of Nathan Philactides, Max Donohue, Jack Sammartino and Jye Peacock.

One(s) To Watch

The milestone man: Jai Serong!

Jai will run out for his 50th VFL match on Saturday afternoon, having made his debut against Collingwood back in round 1, 2022.

In his 49 games to date Serong has played and excelled across each line on the field, won the 2024 Col Austen Trophy and more recently been in fine form as a hybrid wingman.

Hard-working, reliable and versatile there’s every chance you’ll see Jai behind the ball if his coaches need to shore things up, in the forward 50 if his side needs a goal, or patrolling the wing to aid his side in transition.

Go well, Sez!

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.