Round 5 Match Preview

WHEN: 1.05pm, Sunday April 24
WHERE: Piranha Park
COVERAGE: Listen on 3WBC 94.1FM or watch via AFL Live Official App. 

We’re coming in fresh off the bye and ready for our Round 5 clash with the Coburg Lions, in the annual ANZAC Cup this Sunday. 

We’ll aim for another win to make it 2-2 for the season in our fourth match of the year, given we currently sit at 1-2. 

Last Five Meetings

The Hawks have come out on top in the last five encounters with the Lions, whether it be at home or in Coburg. We’ll hope to maintain that success rate as we head to Piranha Park on Sunday afternoon. 

Round 4, 2019: Box Hill 16.12 (108) defeated Coburg 8.9 (57) at Box Hill City Oval. 
Round 3, 2018: Box Hill 24.11 (155) defeated Coburg 12.11 (83) at Piranha Park. 
Round 2, 2017: Box Hill 20.8 (128) defeated Coburg 9.8 (62) at Box Hill City Oval. 
Round 3, 2016: Box Hill 13.8 (86) defeated Coburg 11.12 (78) at Piranha Park. 
Round 2, 2015: Box Hill 14.7 (91) defeated Coburg 10.11 (71) at Box Hill City Oval. 

How have we been going? 

2022 Formline: L, L, W. 

We managed our first win of the season in Round 3 after two near misses in the first two rounds. It was an impressive 43-point victory over Sandringham at the home of football, which set our season in motion ahead of the bye. 

Ben Cavarra starred on the big stage with four majors to his name, while James Parsons finished with three and Fergus Greene two. But the Hawks shared it around with nine individual goal scorers. 

While Mason De Wit (23), Damian Mascitti (22) and Jaylon Thorpe (20) put in the work around the ball and churned out the disposals. 

How have they been going? 

2022 Formline: W, L, L

The Lions sit with the same win loss ratio as us Hawks, but in the opposite order, with their first and only win so far coming in Round 2, following a bye in Round 1. Since then, they fell just short to Port Melbourne, were bested by the Giants and last week went down against the Casey Demons on their turf. 

In the 35-point loss, Mitch Podhajski was Coburg’s best afield having finished with two goals, ten marks and 20 disposals. With the likes of Luke Bunker and Charlie Thompson also showing out with 25 disposals each at games end. 

Team News 

Fergus Greene is a notable out from our side and of course, the forward line. He’ll miss Round 5 due to health and safety protocols. 

But inclusions see Lachlan Wynd and Dave Brinker-Ritchie come into the team, who are both set to make their debut. While Lachlan Bramble will have his first appearance of the season for the Hawks. 

One to Watch 

James Parsons has been instrumental in all of Box Hill’s games so far this season. The big man has not only been impressive up forward, but also in shouldering some of the ruck load when he’s needed and doing a fine job. 

He was among the best and a standout in our most recent clash with Sandringham, with three majors and as mentioned, shared the ruck work, giving a notable performance. 

He’s likely to be of utmost importance again this weekend and we hope he delivers once more, not only in the ruck where he’s named, but wherever on the ground he may be throughout the game.