TEAMS: VFL Round 8
North Port last week, North Ballarat this week.
It’s another road trip for Chris Newman’s unbeaten Hawks, this time to Eureka Stadium.
Although the two sides bookend the VFL ladder you won’t find complacency in the visitors’ game.
After a challenging start to 2017 The Roosters have been on the improve in recent weeks, having pushed Werribee and Essendon in their last two outings. A breakthrough isn’t far away.
The Hawks will need to be at their best to ensure four points travel back with the team to Box Hill City Oval.
Some AFL-experienced Hawks headline a long list of inclusions, supplemented by a raft of well-performed Vic Development youngsters.
Ins: Dallas Willsmore, Tyrone Vickery, Aaron Bond, Matthew Traynor, Billy Evans, Jordan Walker, Sam Gibson, Vincent Adduci, Liam Cox, Lachlan Williams
Outs: Stuart Horner, Will Hams, Xavier Dimasi, Sam Switkowski, Will Langford, Tim O’Brien
Please note: team to be confirmed prior to bounce.
North Ballarat vs. Box Hill Hawks – VFL Round 8 (1:10pm)
| B | 35. H Morrison | 17. A Kennedy | 34. K Heatherley |
| HB | 42. T Miles | 75. R Schoenmakers | 5. M Warren |
| C | 13. N Evans | 7. A Brolic | 70. D Willsmore |
| HF | 40. K Stewart | 77. T Vickery | 45. N Lane |
| F | 39. M Lewis | 12. C Jones | 3. W Murphy |
| R | 72. M Pittonet | 74. W Hartung | 2. A Moore |
| Int | 8. A Bond | 14. M Traynor | 9. B Evans |
| 23. J Walker | 29. S Gibson | 64. C Glass | |
| 51. V Adduci | 28. L Cox | ||
| 23P | 16. L Williams |
The Vic Development Squad are also on the road this weekend, traveling to Casey Fields to square-off against the Demons.
Andrew Shakespeare’s young Hawks have encountered a tricky few weeks of late, with injuries at AFL level shuffling the deck come selection time at VFL and Vic Development level.
This has lead to opportunities for a host of inexperienced players across the board, with many impressing.
Last week a more polished Port Melbourne were a little too good, but this week sees the fifth placed Casey host the fourth placed Hawks in what looms as a decisive fixture.
Casey Demons v Box Hill Hawks – VIC Development League Round 8 (11am, Saturday 10 June)
| B | 8. A Bond | 53. T Castledine | 6. S Horner |
| HB | 29. S Gibson | 18. L Jeffs | 52. J Godwin |
| C | 23. J Walker | 9. B Evans | 28. L Cox |
| HF | 15. X Dimasi | 33. D Hehir | 13. N Evans |
| F | 3. W Murphy | 58. M Knoll | 47. H Burt |
| R | 19. C O’Sullivan | 51. V Adduci | 14. M Traynor |
| Int | 20. J Codd-Miller | 57. T Davies | 43. T Hollins |
| 56. R Rusan | 55. T Jacotine | 46. T Maloney | |
| 11. B Kilpatrick | 54. T Horne | 21. J Fisher | |
| 50. J Haynes | 25. J Firns | 49. L Walker | |
| 59. J McCormack |
