In a commanding display against Werribee, Box Hill led from the opening minutes and never looked like surrendering their ascendency, running out 43-point winners.

Box Hill got off to a flying start with the first four goals of the match and went in to the first break with seven individual goal kickers. The team’s ability to share the load made it almost impossible to stop the early onslaught.

In order to win the match, Box Hill had to limit a potent Werribee forward line which boasts the competition’s leading goal kicker – Ben Warren. 

Reliable defensive stalwart, David Mirra was called upon to limit the dangerous forward’s influence and was able to restrict Warren, who has kicked 13 goals in the last fortnight, to a single late goal which came when the result was already beyond any doubt.

“I thought Dave Mirra was probably the best player on the ground, Warren’s a very dangerous player and very important to them,” Box Hill Assistant Coach Patrick Hill said. 

“[He] has probably shut down almost every player he has played on in the last three years.”

Brendan Whitecross continued his successful return from injury with 26 touches. 

It was an impressive effort from Whitecross who was only playing his second game for the year and appeared to have officially regained his touch after finding his feet last week.

Mitch Hallahan was also one of Box Hill's best, amassing a game high 30 disposals to go along with his equal game high three goals. He was also a single clearance away from leading both teams in that category as well.  

It was a game that loomed as a real danger game for Box Hill, with a win keeping them atop the ladder, while a loss would have dropped them back into the shuffle. Next week they will play third place Williamstown in what looms as an early contender for match of the round. 

“We will approach it like we have any other game this year, there’s some players in their side that we’ve got to tuck away to get some good results. If we bring the same energy to our home games as we have today we will at least acquit ourselves and be in the contest late.” 

Final score:
Box Hill 7.3 10.5 13.9 17.13 (115)
Werribee 2.3 4.7 8.8 10.12 (72)

Goals: L. Tobin 3, S. Grimley 3, M. Hallahan 3, D. Wanganeen 2, M. Northe 2, B. Wood , X. Murphy , W. Langford , K. Cheney
Best: D. Mirra, M. Hallahan, K. Cheney, M. Spangher, L. Tobin, D. Wanganeen

Hawthorn listed players:

34. Jordan Kelly
Stats: 11 disposals, 4 marks, 3 inside 50s

Was fairly subdued all game although he was efficient and a his entries inside 50 found their mark.

35. Sam Grimley
Stats: 7 kicks, 5 handballs, 3 goals

Box Hill’s most dangerous big man up forward, displayed a fair bit of mobility and toe for a big bloke. 

38. Mitch Hallahan
Stats: 30 disposals, 7 clearances, 3 goals

Most impressive midfielder for either side all game and managed to sneak forward for a game high three goals. Worked well inside all game but also ran hard to create an option for his team mates.

46. Derick Wanganeen
Stats: 12 disposals, 5 tackles, 2 goals

Bounced back after a quiet game last week to provide important forward pressure and took advantage of a couple of half chances. 

47. Jonathon Ceglar
Stats: 12 disposals, 6 marks, 14 hitouts

Struggled in the ruck duel against two very good VFL ruckmen in Currie and Daw, looked good around the ground though.

61. Angus Litherland
Stats: 9 kicks, 6 handballs, 5 rebound 50s

Wasn’t prominent but provided a reliable avenue out of defence with his crisp skills.

63. Kyle Cheney
Stats: 18 disposals, 5 marks, 1 goal

Back to his best today – hitting targets, winning 1on1s despite often being asked to take a taller defender, and rebounding cleanly out of defence.

 

65. Will Langford
Stats: 22 disposals, 8 inside 50s, 8 clearances

Thrived in close getting his hands dirty today with the majority of his possessions coming contested. He also had a game high eight clearances.

67, Matt Spangher
Stats: 8 kicks, 3 handballs, 5 marks

Didn’t impose himself on the game as he has in previous weeks but certainly played his role in shutting down the dangerous Werribee forward line.

70. Luke Lowden
Stats: 8 disposals, 4 marks, 19 hitouts

Missed a goal he normally would have kicked after cleverly getting a bit of space but was unsighted for large amounts of the game. Still put it down a Box Hill midfielders’ throat in several stoppage situations.

77. Michael Osborne
Stats: 21 disposals, 7 inside 50s, 5 tackles

His skills were sublime but he also provided a lot of the one percenters and led from the front all day.

81. Brendan Whitecross
Stats: 26 disposals, 9 inside 50s, 5 clearances

Got his hands dirty in close and also managed to get some space to display his long kicking skills. Much improved performance after last weeks’ season debut and seems to already have his groove back.