The Box Hill Hawks succumbed to a second loss on the season on Saturday afternoon, falling to Collingwood by 17-points at Box Hill City Oval.

Having made the early running to set-up a three goal advantage at quarter time, the Hawks struggled to create and take chances thereafter, managing just five goals for the remainder of the contest.

A late Ned Reeves double drew the hosts to within a kick half-way through the final term – at which point it looked like Box Hill might pull off the greatest of escapes – but it was Collingwood who finished the better to secure the points.

Apart from a positive first term, it felt as though the Hawks battled to get the game on their terms for large spells, often playing out chunks of time in their defensive half, in a mode and at a pace which better suited the visitors.

Despite recording 28 more disposals and taking 29 more marks, Box Hill managed just 36 inside 50s for the day, some 20 fewer than the Magpies and 10 down on their season average. In what was an otherwise even contest, those additional entries afforded Collingwood the opportunities needed to win the day.

Trent Bianco was adjudged the Hawks’ best player, working hard across the full four quarters to win 29 disposals, have five inside 50s and take seven marks. The former Magpie was part of a midfield cohort which battled manfully inside the contest in an attempt to turn things the brown and gold’s way. 

Seamus Mitchell’s game-high 35 disposals and team-high 12 marks saw him declared his side’s second best player for the afternoon, with the rebounding half-back’s positivity with ball in hand and willingness to drive his legs a highlight on a tricky afternoon.

Having excelled in a midfield role the past two weeks, Sam Butler’s fine form around the ball continued as he finished the day with 29 touches, six clearances and a game-high 12 tackles – a performance which continues to validate his move up the ground.

Inside midfielder Henry Hustwaite’s excellent season at the VFL level continued as he compiled 32 touches (14 contested), five clearances and three score involvements.

Milestone man Jai Serong, playing his 50th match at the VFL level, was deployed here, there and everywhere throughout the course of the day. The versatile tall booted back-to-back goals after the quarter time siren and 25 seconds into the second term, won 18 disposals all told and took six marks in a typically classy display.

Lastly among Box Hill’s better players was Bodie Ryan. The running back amassed 22 touches, had seven rebounds 50s and took eight marks up until early in the last term – at which point he came off second best in a heavy collision after disposing of the ball and played no further part in the game.

The afternoon started positively enough for Box Hill, who kicked the first goal of the day via Will McCabe after just 24 seconds. Cal Porter marked brilliantly and dished off to the running Mitchell to kick his side’s second five minutes later, before Jasper Scaife booted his first and the Hawks’ third 10 minutes after that.

Collingwood were able to equalise the contest for much of what remained of the first quarter and got initial reward when Will Hayes kicked their opening goal of the day after 22 minutes, but Serong marked and kicked truly to re-establish the Hawks’ 17-point lead at the first break.

Serong’s first came after the quarter time siren and, if possible, his second felt like it sailed through before the second frame had even begun. Sadly, that was as good as it got for Box Hill. The 22-point lead would be a game-high – and over the next half-an-hour evaporate before their eyes. 

Tom Mitchell and Mason Cox kicked truly to get their side back into the contest, before Jake Arundell was taken high and kicked his first of the afternoon from the resulting set shot to take the lead out to 16-points with 11 minutes played.

Goals to Byrne, Cox, DeMattia and Hayes handed Collingwood the initiative, however, and with it a 12-point half-time lead. The Magpies had booted 6.5 to 2.1 in what was potentially their best quarter of the 2025 season; you could make an argument it was Box Hill’s worst.

When play resumed Cox kicked a third of the afternoon to further stamp his aerial authority on the match and hand his side some much-needed breathing room, before Kye Declase popped up in the right spot at the right time deep in attacking 50 to trim the deficit back to two goals.

Hayes’ third arrived just two minutes later to bring a premature halt to any momentum Box Hill might’ve hoped to build, with the match devolving into a slog played out over 20-minutes of goalless footy. 

17-points down at the final change, the Hawks began the quarter full of intent. Ned Reeves was thrown deep in an attempt to stretch the Collingwood defence and kicked two impressive goals to draw his side to within a kick.

With the wind seemingly in their sails Box Hill continued to attack. After another foray forward the boys in brown and gold won the ball inside the contest and worked it into space, at which point developing midfielder Blake Simondson gathered and fired at goal – but could only watch as his flying shot sailed agonisingly wide.

Three points down with just 14 minutes played, it was as close as the Hawks got. The Magpies managed the clock and game expertly for what remained of the quarter, controlling both possession and territory to kick the final two goals of the afternoon and run out deserved 17-point winners.

Box Hill return to action next Saturday, hosting Frankston at Box Hill City Oval from 2:05pm.

Best: Bianco, Mitchell, Butler, Hustwaite, Serong, Ryan

Goals: Serong, Reeves 2, Scaife, Mitchell, McCabe, Declase, Arundell

Disposals: Mitchell 35, Hustwaite 32, Butler 29, Bianco 29, Ryan 22, Mackenzie 22