VFLW match report: Hawks win in convincing fashion over Blues

Box Hill has produced one of its biggest wins of the season, claiming its seventh victory by 60 points over Carlton at Ikon Park on Saturday afternoon.

Despite no AFLW players suiting up in brown and gold, the Hawks’ VFLW-listed stars stood up, leading all key stats of the day to remain on top of the table heading into Round 11. 

You would be forgiven if you thought you were watching a game of ping pong rather than Aussie Rules, as the ball was slingshotted back and forth in the opening stages of the game.

The Hawks were able to break through and score, but there wasn’t much damage to the scoreboard with three early behinds.

The first goal of the day came through some nice teamwork between Sandringham Dragons product Mia Zielinski and goalkicking spearhead Miz Kendall, with Kendall benefitting off a smart Zielinski kick to run into an open goal.

Carlton then responded with a goal in the dying stages of the first term to open up a three-point margin.

The Hawks got going in the second term and began to own the game across the ground.

It resulted in two goals – one from Caitlin Thorne and the other from Grace Matser, who scored her first goal of the season.

By that point, Thorne was arguably the best player on the ground with 11 touches to go with that major.

Again, the Blues found a way to respond to bring the half-time margin to 11 points.

In the third term, it was Matser who gave the crowd something to cheer about with a goal-of-the-year contender. 

The classy ruck ventured up forward once again and found herself kicking for goal tucked up right on the boundary.

In what seemed like an effortless strike, she was able to put through her second of the day and Box Hill’s fourth.

Never too far away from the goal fest is Kendall and they made sure they contributed again shortly after with their second of the day.

After that, a break in play ensued as midfielder Annie Muir appeared to be winded. 

Thankfully, she was checked and deemed okay, heading back onto the ground.

She made a difference almost immediately, scoring the Hawks’ sixth major of the afternoon. 

A beautiful moment came after the three-quarter-time siren as reliable defender Eleanor Butler kicked her first goal of the season.

The team produced similar scenes to Gabby Collingwood’s game-winning goal against the Blues last year, running onto the ground to get around Butler.

At the final change, the margin had blown out to 41 points, courtesy of a quarter where the Hawks kicked five goals to none. 

The trend of defenders kicking their first goals continued in the final term as Annabelle Embelton joined the party, also drilling one through following a 50-metre penalty. 

The Blues then got their third of the day before two quick goals from Zielinski and skipper Tam Luke, who were both rewarded for solid days inside 50. 

Matser pushed the winning margin out to 60 with her third of the day as the Hawks continued to pile on the pressure and not give the Blues an inch at their home ground. 

By the end of the game, the Hawks had triumphed disposals (+68), inside 50s (+15) and marks (+37) to record a convincing win on the road.

They will aim to back it up next Saturday at 12.05pm AEST against Essendon at Windy Hill, with the match available to stream on VFL.com.au and the VFL App.

Carlton	1.0	2.0	2.0	3.0 (18)
Box Hill	1.3	3.5	8.5	12.6 (78)

Best: Thorne, Spamer, Luke, Matser, Zielinski, Cox
Goals: Matser 3, Kendall 2, Zielinski, Thorne, Muir, Luke, Embelton, Davidson, Butler
Disposals: Spamer 21, Luke 20, Thorne 18, Cox 17, Zielinski 15, von Bertouch 15