Round 7 Match Preview

WHEN: 2.05pm, Sunday May 8
WHERE: Windy Hill 
COVERAGE: Tune into Channel 7 or stream live via the AFL Live Official App to watch. Or listen live via 3WBC 94.1FM. 

We return to Windy Hill this weekend, thankfully this time with crowds, to take on Essendon in our Round 7 clash. 

Clint Proctor’s Hawks come into the game in better touch than the form line suggests, having run the undefeated Demons to seven points last Sunday. ‘Proc’ will be looking for the same hunger and intensity that has seen his side lead in every fourth quarter this season. 

Last Five Meetings

Aside from the most recent result in 2021, when we got the points by by virtue of a 51-point win, it’s been the red and black who have assumed bragging rights in narrow encounters.

Round 10, 2021: Box Hill 15.12 (102) defeated Essendon 7.9 (51) at Windy Hill. 
Round 11, 2019: Essendon 10.11 (71) defeated Box Hill 9.7 (61) at Windy Hill. 
Round 12, 2018: 9.11 (65) defeated Box Hill 7.9 (51) at Box Hill City Oval. 
Round 17, 2017: Essendon 14.5 (89) defeated Box Hill 12.11 (83) at Windy Hill. 
Round 15, 2016: Essendon 15.5 (95) defeated Box Hill 13.14 (92) at Windy Hill. 

How have we been going? 

2022 Formline: L, L, W, W, L. 

Just seven points separated us and the still undefeated Casey Demons come full time at Box Hill City Oval last weekend. 

The relentless Hawks battled well all day, never conceding  the contest. Having fought back from as many as four goals down mid way though the third, a final quarter rally saw the brown and gold briefly snatch the lead. 

Ed Phillips put in a stellar performance on the wing, accumulating 31 disposals to be his side’s best, while Damian Mascitti and Daniel Howe were excellent contributors all afternoon. They were joined by the returning Brady Grey, as well as defenders Stu Horner and James Black in the Hawks’ best.

How have they been going? 

2022 Formline: L, L, L, L, L, L. 

The Bombers are yet to secure a W this season, most recently falling to Footscray by 13 points. 

Essendon led by three points at the main break but conceded seven goals in the third term to put the game out of reach. They fought back in the last, but the Bulldogs retained a two-goal buffer to run out winners.

Joe Ately, the Don’s captain, led from the front with 27 disposals and nine clearances. Brayden Ham finished with 21 disposals and 11 marks, and Nick Hind had 20 touches from across half back. 

In selection news, the Bombers made five late changes to their selected side at AFL-level, a move which will provide some fresh faces and opportunities in their VFL program. 

Team News 

We’ll be without our skipper in Hugh Beasley this week, with the man in charge having suffered a hamstring injury last week against Casey. 

Into the side come Hawthorn’s Connor Downie who’ll know doubt bring good value off a flank, as well as excitement machine Tyler Brockman who is named in the forward line. 

With just a couple magnets moved, we’ll head in relatively unchanged from the side who took it right up to the top-of-the-table Demons last weekend. 

One to Watch 

Named in the best players for the past two weeks and best on ground for the Hawks in Round 6, there’s no questioning that Ed Phillips is showing us elite football. 

Named on the wing for this week’s clash, he’s sure to provide run, contest and accuracy all day, and perhaps a sneaky goal like last week’s on the siren. 

Phillips is currently leading Box Hill’s average marks with 9.5 per game, and a total of 38 so far this season. 

He sits top three for effective kicks with 45, leads our uncontested possessions on 70 after five games and is among the top three for inside 50s. 

Phillips is ever-reliable and exciting, always a good one to keep your eye on from the brown and gold.