VFLW Round 8 Match Report: Hawks back on the winner’s list

Our Round 8 clash with the Southern Saints played out in exciting fashion, as our Hawks staged a comeback win at the Wonthaggi Recreation Reserve. 

It was the Hawks who put through the first and only score of the opening term, when AFLW’s Sophie Butterworth goaled off the Hawks first inside 50 entry with a beautiful left foot kick on the run. 

We were kicking with a strong breeze for the first quarter, but managed just the one score. With the rest of the quarter played back and forth between the arcs. Our Hawks led six to nil at the first break. 

The second quarter saw the visiting Southern Saints make the most of their opportunity with the wind, kicking two goals and five behinds, while the Hawks managed a single behind. We trailed by ten at half time. 

Quarter three saw the Hawks back with the breeze, and we made the most of the directional change, slotting two majors for the term. 

The first came through the versatile Matilda Van Berkel off the wing, she goaled from set shot 40 metres out from the posts. While Captain Tamara Luke closed out the term with a goal to her name after a holding free kick out of the ruck contest to put the Hawks ahead by three. 

Our hard work in the third term set us up to come home strong in the last. A shift of the magnets saw Van Berkel man up down back, allowing AFLW star Tilly Lucas-Rodd to roam free during which time they managed 10 disposals for the last quarter alone, which proved impactful for the Hawks.

By this point in the game the wind had dropped, and the Hawks utilised the ball well, retaining possession for the majority of the last quarter.  Two close calls saw almost goals through Jess Vukic and Rosie Dillon touched on the line, allowed the Hawks to nudge slightly further in front. 

But it was Eastern Rangers product Grace Belloni who sealed the victory, after running onto the ball in an open goal square to boot a goal late in the game. 

Our best players were spearheaded by Lucas-Rodd who racked up 30 disposals in their first Box Hill win, joined by the ever-reliable Luke who played out the day in the ruck, while AFLW’s Sophie Locke was a stand out and hard over the footy in a switch to the midfield. 

To round it our were consistent performers in VFLW’s Caitlin Thorne and Dillon who continue to deliver and Van Berkel, having showcased her ability to play her role, wherever on the field that may be. 

Our Hawks return home this weekend to take on Darebin, on Sunday May 19 from 12.05pm. 

Box Hill                         1.0       1.1       3.2         4.5        (29)      

Western Bulldogs          0.0       2.5       2.5      2.6   (18)

Best: Lucas-Rodd, Luke, Locke, Thorne, Dillon & Van Berkel. 

Goals: Butterworth, Luke, Van Berkel, Belloni. 

Disposals: Lucas-Rodd (30), Locke (20), Luke (16), Belloni (15), Thorne (15), Dilon (14), Parker (14).