Round 12 Match Preview
WHEN: 1.35pm, Saturday June 11
WHERE: Box Hill City Oval
COVERAGE: Watch live via the AFL Live Official App or tune in to listen with 3WBC 94.1FM.
We’re back home at Box Hill City Oval after a Bye and two away games. We’ll take on Port Melbourne for the first time since 2019 as the Hawks look to secure their fifth win on the trot.
More, all current AFL Club Members will gain free entry to each and every round 12 VFL match-up this weekend! Simply present your 2022 membership card at the gate.
Last five meetings
Round 3, 2019: Port Melbourne 12.17 (89) defeated Box Hill 8.17 (65) at ETU Stadium.
Elimination Final, 2018: Box Hill 13.18 (96) defeated Port Melbourne 13.7 (85) at ETU Stadium.
Round 15, 2018: Box Hill 15.20 (110) defeated Port Melbourne 10.7 (67) at Box Hill City Oval.
2nd Qualifying Final, 2017: Box Hill 11.11 (77) defeated Port Melbourne 9.10 (64) at Box Hill City Oval.
Round 18, 2017: Port Melbourne 13.8 (86) defeated Box Hill 8.10 (58) at Box Hill City Oval.
Box Hill have won three of the last five meetings with Port Melbourne, two of which were even higher stakes games as Qualifying and Elimination Finals in 2017 and 2018 respectively. We haven’t hosted The Borough at Box Hill City Oval since 2018, so it’ll be a treat to have them here once again come Saturday.
How have we been going?
2022 Formline: L, L, W, W, L, W, W, W, W.
The Hawks made it six wins in the last seven games after a 71-point win over North Melbourne on a wet Sunday afternoon at Arden Street.
We were well led by Hawthorn’s James Worpel and Finn Maginness who had 30 and 35 disposals respectively. As well as the likes of Ben Cavarra who booted three goals, James Parsons who finished with 25 disposals, James Blank the new man of Hawthorn who was again solid down back and Fergus Greene who also slotted three goals.
We led from the get-go with a 4-0 first term, steadily increasing as the game went on, to finish with an 11-goal margin.
How have they been going?
2022 Formline: L, L, L, W, L, L, W, L, W.
Port Melbourne are sitting with just three wins under their belt for the 2022 season, but have lost two by just under a goal.
Their most recent came last weekend in Round 11, with a 19-point victory over Williamstown on Sunday afternoon – 10.9 (69) to 6.14. (50).
Harvey Hooper and Ethan Phillips took home the Frank Johnson Tribute Medal as best afield. Hooper had 21 disposals, 7 tackles and Phillips 18 disposals and four marks.
Eli Templeton also brought strong pressure to the game, he had 11 tackles for the afternoon, while Marcus Lentini and Jackson Weidemann both finished with 16 disposals.
Team News
Returning to the side this weekend is Stu Horner and Mason De Wit who will further bolster our backline, with Lachie Wynd also coming in. While Hawthorn-listed, Connor MacDonald will make his debut for Box Hill.
Hawthorn’s James Worpel and Finn Maginness who had great games for Box Hill last week will again line up with us. While last week’s debutant Jake Arundell, as well as fellow youngsters Charlie Beasley, Max Walton and Max Hall
Jackson Callow, James Blanck and Josh Morris are all outs for Box Hill, with Callow elevated to the Hawthorn team, while Blanck and Morris will travel as emergencies.
One to Watch
This week our one to watch is the ever reliable and always consistent, Damian Mascitti.
A former Port Melbourne premiership player, the dominant backman is never over-looked, he’s a vital cog in our team and has been since he joined the club in 2019.
Mascitti is currently sitting third for rebound 50s and second in effective kicks across the whole competition. He’s a regular disposal leader for the Hawks each week and no stranger to the best players either.
