Box Hill continued its undefeated start to 2023, taking down Coburg by 71 points on Saturday.

The club secured its first 4-0 start to a season since 2018, with several AFL listed players starring in the recent clash at Box Hill City Oval.

Box Hill Coach Zane Littlejohn said that despite the winning result, his group started slower than previous weeks.

“We probably didn’t start the game how we wanted to,” Littlejohn said.

“We didn’t have the right mentality with the mindset of attacking Coburg, but the pleasing thing from that was that we did adjust during the game.

"To be able to run away and win by 71 points is a great outcome, however although we're winning like that there are still areas of our game we need to get better at collectively as a group and individuals."

Hear what Littlejohn had to say about how each senior Hawk went on the day.

Jacob Koschitzke (3 goals, 14 disposals, 8 marks) 

“It was Kosi’s best game for us in a long time, I think. We really challenged him to get up and get moving and he was able to take eight marks, with a couple of contested and kick three goals and one point. It’s a really exciting time for Kosi to get a bit of confidence in his game, for him to get up and around the ground which was really pleasing. Getting the reward on the scoreboard too was good to see as he hasn’t been able to get that in the last few weeks. To be able to kick accurately should give him some real confidence moving forward.”

Lachy Bramble (37 disposals, 9 marks)

“It was arguably Brambs’ best game for us since being back at VFL level. He was able to have eight score involvements and 30-plus touches. He was really involved offensively, and we were able to move him on-ball late in the last and he gave us some good running power and drive off there. It was really pleasing to see him find a bit of the footy around the clearances as well. He ended up with four clearances on the day and two centre bounces. He was being really positive for us in regards with his performance since he has been back with us.”

Lloyd Meek (24 hit-outs, 16 disposals, 5 marks)

“Meeky came back for his first game after obviously being disappointed to be dropped from the senior side. He probably got jumped over in the early stages of the game by their young ruck in the centre bounce. But he was able to find his feet, and it was the first time he has worked with the midfielders such as Cal Porter and Cooper Stephens, but he was able to adjust really well and get some continuity and connection with those mids. He took five uncontested marks, so we’d like to see him take more contested marks in the game and be stronger in those contests. But he still managed to have ten score involvements, which as a ruck which is really pleasing. He hit the scoreboard, although it was a point, it was good to see him get forward and spend some time down there. He’s got to keep working on his contest and get better in that area and be more consistent in that space.”

Finn Maginness (26 disposals, 1 goal, 7 tackles)

“Finn came back, and we just played him as a normal midfielder – he didn’t have to tag – but he still managed to have five tackles and seven clearances. We saw him do his job really well in there and provide a bit of energy around the ball while finding a nice balance between contested and uncontested possessions and hit the scoreboard too. It was really good for him to just find the footy, he finished with 26 disposals which is great. I’m not sure when the last time he would’ve had that number of possessions in a game, so for him to find a bit of the footy like that is great for him and his confidence moving forward, he’s just got to keep being consistent now and find that balance.”

Josh Morris (12 disposals, 4 tackles)

“Josh didn’t have a huge game in regard to statistics, but he still had some impact on the game with some really good defensive moments where he was able to save us a couple of times. He had just the 12 touches, but laid four tackles however, so that defensive side of his game was better. He’ll be better for the run, and we’ll start to see him progress ideally in being involved even more in Hawks ball for us.”

James Blanck (12 spoils, 7 tackles, 8 disposals)

“Blancky won the Gibbs-Lines Medal – a recognition of the player deemed to best exemplify the ANZAC spirit. You look at Blancky’s stats sheet and he only had the eight touches, but beyond that he had seven tackles and 12 spoils. They’re things you don’t necessarily see when you go and watch a game, but he saved us a few times. His ability to just recover defence for us, cover off for his teammates, and be tough was probably why he was awarded the medal in an ANZAC weekend which was really pleasing. We saw some great leadership from him down back, he played on probably their best forward. Even the opposition coach mentioned after the game that they had Blanck beaten a few times, but he somehow recovered and got a fist in and gave a great contest. It was a great reward for Blancky.”

Josh Weddle (27 disposals, 10 marks)

“Weddle was really good in both facets of the game in offence and defence. He was able to energise the ball for us and get some speed on it for us when he needed to, but also be calm and precise when he needed to as well. His aerial stuff was really pleasing, he finished with 27 touches, and took 10 marks and had five score involvements as well. As a first-year player – who we know has a lot of talent – he has been able to contribute to the game in both facets of offense and defence. It was a really pleasing output for him.”

Cooper Stephens (24 disposals, 1 goal, 7 tackles)

“Coops’ clearance work – he managed to have six clearances on the day – was a stand-out and his real strength. We saw him have a good balance of uncontested and contested possessions. He kicked a goal too – when you’ve got your midfielders pushing forward and hitting the scoreboard is really valuable.”

Sam Butler (3 goals, 10 disposals)

“It was a bit of a quieter weekend for Butsy – he still managed to kick three goals – but in terms of numbers he didn’t quite get the possession numbers he may have liked. While he worked hard up and down the ground – he finished with just 10 touches and the one tackle – which is probably not the balance we want from Buts. However, to hit the scoreboard, which is his main role, he’s done that really well.”

Max Ramsden (2 goals, 12 hit-outs, 11 disposals)

“Rama had another solid game – he kicked 2.2 and hit the post in one of them. In previous weeks he has probably kicked four straight, so it wasn’t probably the input he has had previously, but his involvement in the game was still strong. He’s looking dangerous as a forward. We’ve seen some nice things from Rama, he’s just got to keep developing that area of his game and keep being consistent in his contest work and ruck craft. His weapon is his ability to cover the ground, so he’s just got to keep being consistent and find ways to make that shine in games.”

Bailey Macdonald (18 disposals, 7 marks)

“There were some highlights from Bails again, which we always see. He’s played four games at this level now, so the growth for him to move forward now is about getting his defensive running patterns and speed to become more consistent while being more open in that involvement. We know you can’t be quite in defence, you’ve got to be loud and vocal and making sure you’re helping everyone else be involved in the game when you’re not directly involved. So, his communication and direction as a young defender is going to be really important for him moving forward.”

Jack O’Sullivan (27 disposals, 1 goal, 7 marks)

“Sul had some great numbers on the stats sheet and he had some really good moments. He kicked 1.3, so he’s got to start to get better in front of goal and be a bit more consistent in that space, he knows that though. However, to have 11 score involvements is a great output from him. He has some areas of his game that he knows he needs to get better at, but the beauty with all of our draftees is that they’re aware of the areas they need to improve in. Improvement is not linear, similar to development – it has its ups and downs – so he’ll continue to work and get better. His 27 disposals was his highest this year for us. The next step for him for him is getting involved in defence better and understanding how to defend at this level. If you’re a step off, the opposition can go back through you, better yet at AFL level if he gets his opportunity there. You’ve got to be right on your toes and defend ruthlessly in this space.”

Josh Bennetts (18 disposals, 1 goal, 5 marks)

“If you watched the game, you would’ve seen his legs go ‘bull of the gate’, he is working his backside off, he hits the scoreboard regularly and has great score involvement. He has had seven score involvements, 18 touches and we saw him working up the ground to get five uncontested marks, so his work rate has been really good. He plays his role really well. He’s not the flashy type of player, but what he does, he makes it count. He is progressing really nicely. Like all our draftees, showing the ability to make his decisions quicker in defence will be his next step.”

Emerson Jeka (9 disposals, 5 marks)

“Jeks made his return and played three quarters. The pleasing thing for him was that we saw him up the ground as a forward – he took five marks and one of those was contested. While he didn’t hit the scoreboard, he was involved in some really good plays where we were able to get some forward momentum off and give us some good outlet. He looked really dangerous for us. He’ll be better for the run once he gets more minutes into his body which ideally, he’ll find more of next week.”

...this week's Box Hill shout-out goes to...

Damian Mascitti (23 disposals, 8 marks)

"Damo was solid in playing his wing role and a bit down across half back as well. He finished with 23 touches. At half time what we spoke about was needing a bit more calmness with our ball movement and Damo provided that really well. He finished with 18 kicks - 16 of which were effective - so he makes it count when he has the ball and allows us to set up some offensive drive. Overall, it was a really pleasing game from Damo."

Cal Brown (33 disposals, 9 marks)

"Like Brambs, we moved Cal on-ball in the last quarter. He finished with 33 touches and 10 score involvement's. He just helps in providing energy around the contest and within the group. He's had a really good month of footy so far to start the season. He's on the right track to have a really good year. His buy-in and application to our program has been great, especially for a player outside the AFL program. He was in the AFL for a long time, so for him to come back to more of a semi-professional program, but still drive great standards has been really impressive and we've seen that in his performances. How he's getting his possessions is really pleasing, they're not cheap they've been really tough and valuable for us."

The Hawks travel to Gippsland next weekend to host the Casey Demons in a massive double header at Wonthaggi Recreation Reserve in conjunction with the VFLW team.

Littlejohn added that he was looking forward to the match-up next week.

"We'll continue to grow and get better, and we look forward to a really big challenge this week against Casey who have arguably been the benchmark in the competition in recent years.

"We'll get a good audit of how our game is and where our game stacks up."