Round 21 Match Preview

WHEN: 2.05pm, Saturday August 13
WHERE: Box Hill City Oval
COVERAGE: Stream live via the AFL Live Official App or tune in to listen with 3WBC 94.1FM. 

An age-old rivalry is renewed tomorrow afternoon as two proud, AFL-aligned clubs prepare to butt heads at Box Hill City Oval.

For the Hawks it’s a chance to further cement our place in the top 8 and remain well in the
hunt for finals, but the Cats won’t go down without a fight – It’s sure to be an exciting clash.

Last five meetings

Round 14, 2019: Box Hill 13.7 (85) defeated Geelong 11.9 (75) at Box Hill City Oval.
Semi Final, 2018: Box Hill 13.12 (90) defeated Geelong 8.13 (61) at ETU Stadium.
Round 21, 2018: Box Hill 14.9 (93) defeated Geelong 10.12 (72) at Box Hill City Oval.
Round 16, 2017: Box Hill 19.23 (137) defeated Geelong 13.7 (85) at Box Hill City Oval.
Round 4, 2017: Box Hill 14.11 (95) defeated Geelong 8.5 (53) at Simonds Stadium.

The Hawks have got the best of the Cats in the past five encounters in recent years, including three match-ups at City Oval.

How have we been going?
L, L, W, W, L, W, W, W, W, W, L, L, L, W, W, W.

Box Hill secured a 51-point win over Frankston on their turf at Skybus Stadium in Round 20.
The win, our third in a row, allowed the Hawks to climb to sixth on the VFL ladder.

It was a solid team performance, with a spread of contributions from young and old. 

Hawthorn’s Jackson Callow was named best on ground with 19 touches, a team-high eight
marks and three goals.

Joining him was fellow senior-listed player, Liam Shiels who came in second best on ground after putting his experience on display, 27 touches, a game-high 10 tackles and equal game-high nine clearances and a goal.

Cal Porter, Jack Saunders and Max Ramsden, for his best game with us to date and Ed
Phillips rounding out the best players.

How have they been going?
W, L, W, L, W, W, W, W, L, L, L, L, L, L, L, W.

Geelong took a 18-point win over Sandringham at home on GMHBA Stadium. It was a close
contest, but the Cats took the most of their chances to get on top.

Osca Riccardi collected 12 disposals, three marks and a goal in his first outing for the club.
Quinton Narkle managed one goal, 29 disposals and three tackles and showed elite effort
across the ground. While James Willis finished with a goal, 18 disposals and three
clearances.

Danie Caprion had many individual efforts throughout the game with eight disposals, three
marks and three tackles at games end. With Lachie Bond who provided scoring
opportunities with four games, 11 disposals and five marks.

Team News
A couple of changes to our side this week from the side that defeated the Dolphins.
We lose Stu Horner who is out under Covid Health and Safety Protocols, while David
Brinker-Ritchie is omitted with Hawthorn’s Max Lynch re-joining the Box Hill line-up after a
week out.

Senior-listed players in Liam Shiels, Tom Phillips and Fionn O’Hara are also leaving the side.
With Shiels being elevated and Phillips having unfortunately suffered a season-ending injury
last week.

In comes Box Hill staples in Brady Grey and Mason De Wit, who both missed the Frankston clash due to Covid. As well as Hawthorn’s Conor MacDonald, Kyle Hartigan and Sam Butler who will again join the Box Hill ranks this weekend. 

One to Watch
Brady Grey re-joins the Hawks line up for Round 21 after missing last week. He’ll be a good
one to watch due to the week off alone, as we expect he’ll be ready and raring to go after
the forced spell.

Grey is an extremely versatile player, having started the season playing out of the forward
line, with a recent switch to a lockdown backman role which he’s been excelling at.

We’ll have to wait until the first bounce to see for certain where he lines up, but it’s
guaranteed to be a game of intensity and pressure from Grey either way.

Keep your eyes peeled on our number 64 on Saturday arvo.