The Box Hill Hawks turned in arguably their most impressive and complete performance under senior coach Zane Littlejohn on Saturday, routing the Gold Coast Suns by 84-points at People First Stadium.

The Hawks lead at every change – extending the deficit to their hosts as they went – and kicked a staggering 14 unanswered goals between the 20-minute-mark of the second term and the final siren.

Seven boys in brown and gold booted multiple goals, while eight of the top 10 ranked players on the ground – and 12 of the top 15 – sang the song at the end of the game.

The site of two season-ending finals defeats in 2022 and 2023, People First Stadium held no fear nor contained any scar tissue for this breed of Box Hill Hawks player, who recorded a first victory against the Suns since 2022.

So compelling was the performance, Box Hill finished the day +106 in total disposals, +12 inside 50s, +14 in clearance, +41 marks, +16 tackles and weren’t headed from the moment Jake Arundell kicked his first – and his side’s first of 14 without reply – early in time on of the second.

Max Ramsden turned in a second successive best afield performance as a roaming ruck, finishing the day’s play as the #3 rated player on the ground in terms of ranking points (122), the #1 rated player for goals (3), clearances (9) and contested possessions (20). He was also third in disposals (26), took down seven marks and tallied three inside 50s.

The developing big man was simply superb wherever the play demanded he be and in whatever phase of the game the match was in.

Not far behind him was Jai Serong. Again deployed a touch further up the ground in a quasi wing role, Serong was strong in the air, clean on the ground and composed in possession. Just one man on the ground won more ball than ‘Sez,’ who finished with 28 disposals for the day, and he was also the equal top-performed player when it came to marks (11) and score involvements (6).

Sam Butler enjoyed his day’s work as a hybrid midfield/half forward and won a place in his side’s best players. Still on the comeback trail from a nasty broken leg suffered early last season, Butler relished the opportunity to get up the ground and be in the thick of things, finishing with a game-high 31 touches. He also added seven clearances, five marks, six score involvements and five tackles to his stat line. 

The dashing Seamus Mitchell complemented the work of Serong and Butler expertly, driving his side out of defensive fifty and across the centreline time and again on his way to 24 touches, seven rebound 50s, seven marks, five tackles and five score involvements. 

Further up the ground Jake Arundell produced his strongest performance of the 2025 season as he compiled 23 disposals, took 10 marks contributed four inside 50s and kicked two classy goals. Deployed in an attacking front-half role, ‘Snake’ was a constant threat to The Suns between the arcs.

Lastly among the Hawks’ named best was Kye Declase. Whether on the spread, in the clinches or within range of goal, the wingman was exceptional all afternoon. He finished the contest with 23 disposals, five inside 50s, four score involvements, eight marks and, like Arundell, two expertly taken goals.

Under overcast skies and with a slight threat of rain, the contest got underway in somewhat cagey fashion.

The Suns got the first of the day after some early Hawks territory came to nought, before the match-up settled into an arm-wrestle between the arcs. The warm and humid conditions made the ball tough to handle, but slowly but surely Box Hill worked their way into the ascendency.

Blake Simondson kicked the Hawks’ first of the day following a sharp gather and instinctive snap in congestion, before Will McCabe marked and kicked truly a short time later.

Zai Millane pulled one back for The Suns, but the Hawks finished the term with the lead after Max Ramsden was infringed in a ruck contest and converted his set-shot. 

The sides traded a pair of behinds to begin the second quarter, before Gold Coast’s Oscar Wood drew his side level after 12 minutes. We weren’t to know this at the time, but it would be their third and final goal of the day… 

Ethan Read’s behind gave The Suns a one-point lead barely five minutes later – but that would be as good as it got for the 2023 VFL Premiers.

Between the 20 and 24 minute marks the Hawks made their move. Arundell’s snap wrestled back the initiative and the lead, Jasper Scaife’s set-shot consolidated it and Kye Declase’s superb snap blew the game apart. 

In arrears entering time on, Box Hill headed to the long break 17-points to the good.

When the cloud cover cleared and the sun came out after half-time you’d be forgiven for thinking the hot conditions would favour the hosts. It wasn’t the case at all.

Matt Hill got things underway in the best possible fashion, kicking his first of the afternoon, before the Hawks and Suns went toe-to-toe for nearly 16-minutes for no goals.

Swingman Sam Durdin marked and kicked his first goal in Box Hill colours just shy of time on to hand his side a 31-point lead, before a Max Donohue double seemingly put the game beyond reach at the 29-minute mark. But the Hawks weren’t done… 

Max Ramsden stepped up just before the three quarter time siren to swing through a beauty which put an exclamation mark on a 5.5 to 0.1 quarter for Zane Littlejohn’s men.

51-points in front with a quarter to play, the play was simple: finish well. 

Hill again bobbed up to kick the opening goal of the term, before Declase added another to his tally barely 90 seconds later.

10 minutes passed thereafter before Arundell nabbed his second of the afternoon, before McCabe joined the growing list of players with two goals to their name two minutes later.

By the time Sam Durdin received the ball just outside 50, took off towards goal, steadied and kicked his second it was hard to know what to think.

But leave it up to Max Ramsden, best man on the ground, to have the final say. ‘Ramma’ capped an excellent individual and team performance with a third goal to take the margin to 84-points – the Hawks’ biggest and best win of the 2025 season.

Box Hill return to action next Saturday, hosting the Brisbane Lions at Box Hill City Oval.

Best: Ramsden, Serong, Butler, Mitchell, Arundell, Declase

Goals: Ramsden 3, McCabe, Hill, Durdin, Donohue, Declase, Arundell 2, Simondson, Scaife, 

Disposals: Serong 28, Ryan 24, Ramsden 24, Butler 23, Hustwaite 22, Mitchell 21, Declase 21, Bianco 21, Arundell 20