The Box Hill Hawks returned to the winners’ list on Saturday afternoon, recording their biggest score and second-greatest winning margin of 2025 in defeating Frankston at Box Hill City Oval.

On a day in which 11 players in brown and gold booted goals, the Hawks won every quarter and set-up a comfortable 63-point win with a seven goal to two opening term.

Lead by the triple-threat of Will McCabe, Jasper Scaife and Calsher Dear – a trio which combined for 10 goals – and the midfield dominance afforded by Ned Reeves, Henry Hustwaite and Cam Mackenzie, Box Hill proved too strong for the visiting Dolphins for an 18th consecutive time.

The hosts finished the day +46 in total disposals, +17 for inside 50s, +24 in hit-outs and +19 in clearance on an afternoon in which Zane Littlejohn and his coaches would’ve been pleased by the breadth of contribution across the entire 23-man squad.

Henry Hustwaite was adjudged to be the Hawks’ best player on account of his standout performance. ‘Huss’ completed the game as the no.1 ranked player on the ground in total disposals (33), inside 50s (10), contested possessions (20) and clearances (11) in a superb display. The Hawks’ no.44 also tallied five score involvements.

Developing tall Will McCabe produced the best of his 16 games at the VFL level, kicking 4.3 from 17 disposals and seven marks. While pleasing to see the swingman hit the scoreboard, the career-high return was underpinned by work rate and contest.

Cam Mackenzie was another to impress, waxing brilliantly with his fellow midfielders all afternoon to finish with 28 touches, six inside 50s, five marks and three clearances. His performance was both a contrast to and complemented Hustwaite, allowing the Hawks to control most aspects of the contest.

Most of the good work done by Box Hill’s on ball cohort was facilitated by the ruck dominance of big man Ned Reeves. ‘Noodle’ ended the afternoon as the no.1 rated player on the ground with 109 ranking points, won 45 hit-outs, had eight clearances, took five marks, kicked a goal and even produced three rebound 50s among his 17 possessions.

Dashing half-back Bailey Macdonald was another to play well on the day, with his 23 disposals comprised of three inside 50s, three rebound 50s, five marks, three clearances and three score involvements; a return which illustrates how much of the ground he covered.

Last among the Hawks’ named best players was wingman Kye Declase. The off-season recruit was at his effective and efficient best, turning 19 touches into maximum impact. His four inside 50s, five marks and two clearances was a good stat-line in it’s own right, but when you factor in his two goals it becomes a great one. 

After a slightly cagey opening few minutes it was Frankston’s Matt Johnson who opened the scoring with a behind – notable because it was the biggest and only lead the visitors would have all day. 

With the wind at their backs kicking to the Whitehorse Road or scoreboard end, the Hawks had early joy as Reeves, Declase and Blake Simondson kicked goals at the four, six and nine minute mark to establish a handy break.

Frankston’s Noah Gown, who would go on to boot seven of his side’s 10 goals, kicked his first of the day after 11 minutes, but Box Hill got back to work in the aftermath, with Mackenzie, skipper Cal Porter and Scaife adding quick fire goals as the term neared time on.

Gown’s second gave the Dolphins hope they could do some damage with the wind in the second term, but Scaife kicked a second of his own to take the sides to the first change separated by 28-points.

McCabe added his name to the growing list of goal kickers early in the second term, booting back-to-back majors in a 90 second burst. The goals handed the Hawks a 39-point lead just seven minutes into the quarter, but Gown was doing his best to keep the Dolphins in touch.

His third and fourth goals of the day bookended Dear’s first, while his fifth came shortly after Luke Breust hit the scoreboard himself.

All told, Gown had booted all five of his side’s goals – but kicking into the breeze the Hawks had won the term 4.3 to 3.2, extending their 28-point quarter time lead to a 35-point half-time advantage In the process.

With the wind at their backs again, Box Hill got back to work. McCabe’s third arrived after three behinds on the trot and was consolidated by Breust’s second. All of a sudden the Hawks’ lead was out to 48-points.

Corey Ellison pulled one back in the shadows of time on, but the race to the three quarter time siren would be won – and won decisively – by the Hawks. 

Declase, Porter and Dear kicked their second goals of the afternoon at the 21, 23 and 27 minute marks to blow the game apart once and for all. 

But there was still time enough for Gown’s sixth to be cancelled out by Scaife’s third, before Ellison’s second got us to the three quarter time break with the Hawks and Dolphins separated by 56-points.

Lane Ward gave his side the perfect start to the final term when he kicked his first goal of the day, while Dear’s third was no less than he deserved for an excellent individual performance.

Gown added a seventh as the Dolphins looked to make some headway kicking with the wind, but when the rain which had threatened to arrive all afternoon finally did, it was Billy Hicks who found himself in the right place at the right time to get on the end of a chain to kick his first VFL goal.

Ellison added a third – to mean just two Dolphins split their 10 total goals – before McCabe put a full stop on things with a fourth, closing the scoring and confirming a 63-point Box Hill win.

The Hawks are back in action next Saturday, visiting Coburg to take on the Lions from 2:05pm.

Best: Hustwaite, McCabe, Mackenzie, Reeves, Macdonald, Declase 

Goals: McCabe 4, Scaife, Dear 3, Porter, Declase, Breust 2, Ward, Simondson, Reeves, Mackenzie, Hicks

Disposals: Hustwaite 33, Mackenzie 28, Macdonald 23, Declase 19, Bianco 18, Anderson 18