Box Hill bounced back from its first loss of the season with a win over Werribee on their home deck for the first time in 12 years.
VFL Senior Coach Zane Littlejohn was impressed with the performance.
“Obviously a great win over there, I think the first time we’ve beaten Werribee at Werribee since 2013,” he said.
“We played for the Beyond Blue Cup, which Werribee held, so it was nice to get that back and win that again."
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Littlejohn is now looking ahead to Box Hill's upcoming game against the Suns in Gold Coast this weekend.
“A big game this week, up to the Gold Coast," he said.
"Obviously we want the AFL side to do a really good job on Thursday night and hopefully, we can get the job done on Saturday.”
Littlejohn reviewed the performance of the 13 AFL-listed Hawks and recognised the efforts of a couple of VFL-listed players.
Seamus Mitchell (29 disposals, 11 marks, 10 intercept possessions)
“Another solid game from Seamus. He defended the ground a lot better this week. I know he had a lot of the footy last week against Richmond, but he defended a hell of a lot better this week and had a better all-around game. He finished with 29 (disposals) but went at 100 per cent, so great efficiency. Seven rebound 50s, five score involvements, so a really sound game from Seamus across half-back.”
Bodie Ryan (24 disposals, 12 marks, eight intercept possessions)
“Bodes is in some good form. It’s all about consistency for Bodie now and his toughness and creativity across half-back were again really pleasing. He was able to generate eight rebound 50s and really start up some of our offence, which was great.”
Cody Anderson (22 disposals, six tackles, five inside 50s)
“Another game on-ball, a game that really suited him. In a tight contest, his ability to second-effort, tackle and win the ground ball was great. It was great to see him win some of the footy, so he finished with 22 disposals, a really good return and again hit the scoreboard.”
Max Ramsden (One goal, 28 hitouts, 21 disposals)
“Rama finished with 21 (disposals), I thought he was the best player on the ground in all honesty, I thought he controlled the contest. He had to ruck this week with Noodle (Ned Reeves) being rested, and he was awesome, really grabbed the game, went forward, hit the scoreboard, his ruck craft, all that stuff was really good. He got great reward, so a really nice return for him.”
Jai Serong (One goal, 17 disposals, nine marks)
“Great to have Jai back in our team, as much as I know he’d like to be playing AFL, but he really sures us up. The thing with Jai this week is he spent some time on a wing and forward, which was great. He finished with 17 (disposals), was a great leader and hit the scoreboard. A really well-rounded game from Jai in a new position, he’s got some structural stuff he needs to continue to learn, but we want to keep exposing our guys at VFL level in different positions so they can continue to put their hand up, regardless of roles that come up at AFL level.”
Sam Butler (17 disposals, seven tackles, three inside 50s)
“Another one who moved positions, he went on-ball this week and spent some time inside. His running profile really suited that and suited the game for us. His ability to get contest to contest and be a real two-way runner was a real highlight for us. It was great to see him get in and around the ball and play a real tough game, and as I mentioned, his two-way running was the highlight.”
Noah Mraz (14 disposals, eight tackles, four intercept possessions)
“Solid as ever Noah, he’s working really hard with Arryn Siposs on his positioning, particularly on his back shoulder and helping to defend the ground that way. He’s been able to take two contested marks, two intercept marks, four intercept possessions and four score involvements, so a really solid game from Noah.”
Sam Frost (13 disposals, seven marks, four intercept possessions)
“Back at his best for us, in terms of playing his role and doing what he does really well and just owning the depth of the ground and being a solid player. We love what Frosty was able to give us. To go at 91 per cent by foot just really set us up and three intercept marks, a great return from one of your real key defenders and a real barometer for us. When he’s on, we’re on.”
Will McCabe (One goal, nine disposals, three marks)
“Again, Will is learning a lot, he’s working closely with Jack Gunston now which has been great for his development and just changing his mindset a little bit around that and how he needs to approach each game. He went in with a real key focus this week and it wasn’t around scoreboard impact, it’s more about what he can do to help his teammates. He’s continually working on what he’s doing when he doesn’t have the ball and being really diligent in that space. He’s a great athlete and we’ve just got to get him to harness and use that athleticism to be more damaging.”
James Blanck (Nine disposals, four marks, four intercept possessions)
“Solid Blancky, he’s not far away from really starting to put his hand up again to play some AFL footy, ever-reliable, tough, physical and really is the barometer in that space for our backs. If Blancky’s off a little with his physicality, usually the rest of the group is as well, but if he’s on, then usually the rest of the group is on with their physicality. He’s a real leader in that for us.”
Jasper Scaife (Three goals, nine disposals, three marks)
“Jasper got to spend a bit of time in the ruck this week, which was good for him, just being around the contest. He was able to hit the scoreboard and kicked three more goals from nine disposals. He’s continually working on his reaction and offence to defence, and then obviously what he’s doing in his marking contests. If he doesn’t mark the ball, what he’s doing after that, so that’s a real focus for Jasper.”
Matt Hill (Three goals, seven disposals, four tackles)
“I think there’s been a bit of publicity around Matty, again, he hit the scoreboard. When we needed a bit of a spark in the game, Matty was able to give it to us. He kicked two valuable goals in the second quarter. He’s learning again, I think I mentioned it last week, around his work rate and how he can ideally put himself in more positions to win the ball and pressure. He’s a super tackler, four tackles again, he hit the scoreboard, and he’s becoming a really damaging player for us.”
Calsher Dear (One goal, six disposals, two contested marks)
“Calsh was on managed minutes again just to balance him through and what we know about Calsher is his ability to bring others into the game. So he’s had two direct score assists, kicked a goal himself, so everyone will look and think ‘aw he hasn’t had much of the footy’ but his involvement in marking contests, brought the ball to ground for the likes of Hilly to crumb, all of that is really what it’s about for him and he was able to give that contest. And I think the pleasing thing is once the ball hits the ground, Calsher’s almost another player on it straight away, keeps his feet in the contest and is able to keep great pressure and energy around that.”
A few VFL player shout-outs…
Callum Porter (12 disposals, eight tackles, five clearances)
“Our Captain Cal Porter, everyone knows Ports really well but we’re very fortunate to have him as a leader of our footy club, he’s super tough, he’s super selfless in playing a role for our group. He’s a Hawthorn supporter growing up, he just wants the best for the Hawthorn boys, and obviously the Box Hill Hawks as well. He’ll do whatever he can to help make sure that we’re developing players but also help them be the best that they can be on and off the field. He’s had eight tackles, a real leader of our footy club and we’re just lucky to have him, I’m very fortunate to have him as our captain.”
Lane Ward (14 disposals, six marks, four tackles)
“Not huge numbers from Laneo but a bit of a different role this week, spent more time inside this week, which is great for his development. Showing real versatility, he’s played on the wing, he’s played forward, he’s played half back and now he’s played inside. So it’s great recognition for a young boy from Gippsland, Warragul. He’s actually played as our 23rd player for the first four games this year and he’s playing so well that he’s keeping his spot, so he's working really hard on his development. We think he’s going to be a really valuable player for us all year with his versatility and flexibility.”
VFLW Round 4 Results
NORTH MELBOURNE 2.1 4.3 7.4 9.7 (61)
BOX HILL 2.1 3.1 3.2 4.3 (27)
GOALS
North Melbourne: Blair 2, Dojiok 2, Ternes 2, Meier 2, Tierney
Box Hill: Stevenson, Matin, Collingwood, Kendall
DISPOSALS
North Melbourne: Di Cosmo (27), Ryan (25), Tierney (21), Douglas & Barba (19)
Box Hill: Price (17), Stevenson (16), Baldwin (15), Exon, Dillon & Cattle (14)
