The Box Hill Hawks enjoyed an important win over Williamstown on their home deck on Sunday, with a massive last quarter to remain two games clear atop the league ladder.
Senior Coach Zane Littlejohn was ecstatic with the result and highlighted the individual performances by AFL-listed Hawks.
“Super win, super result, super everything really,” Littlejohn said.
“Just a great test of our mentality and our ability to respond under a bit of pressure, which is awesome.
“And always good to win away from home and especially over at Williamstown, which is a tough place to travel and win, so great result.”
Before reviewing each Hawk’s game against the Seagulls, Littlejohn highlighted the importance of the bye and the Round 19 match that lie ahead.
“Obviously going into a week off this week, then into the biggest game, they’re all big games now, but probably the biggest game we’ve played this year against Southport up there,” he said.
“A huge challenge, they’re a great side and a side we haven’t beaten up there for a long time so looking forward to that.
“But our role now is to continue to support the AFL to help them continue to perform and ultimately get the win on Thursday night.”
Cam Mackenzie (27 disposals, 11 contested possessions, seven clearances)
“A solid day for Frenchie around the contest, had some really tough moments late in the game, 25 disposals, 11 of those contested and his seven clearances, four tackles. So a really good, tough game, had some great composure with ball in hand. Probably the thing that is not common with Frenchie was he probably just had some execution errors by foot, especially front of centre, which we know Frenchie normally does and executes really well.”
Jai Serong (Two goals, 25 disposals, 11 marks)
“Started on the wing, went down back in the last quarter. A really solid game, kicked the first goal of the game and kicked the last goal of the game, and the last goal was arguably just as important as the first, as it put us 10 points up. So a really nice, solid game from Jai, he’s had 25 disposals, 18 kicks at 94 percent, took a really crucial contested mark, seven score involvements and two goals himself as I’ve mentioned. So a really good balanced game from Jai in regard to offence and defence in contests.”
Bodie Ryan (23 disposals, seven marks, four inside 50s)
“So we get Bodes back after he obviously broke his collarbone against Collingwood and he slotted straight back in. Went down and played across halfback, had the 23 disposals, 21 kicks at 876 percent. And defended the ground quite well, had a moment where he had to stand under the ball and easily could’ve not done that, obviously with what he’s come back from with that broken collarbone, but he stood under it, executed his role and got it done really well so a nice solid return from Bodes.”
Changkuoth Jiath (22 disposals, nine intercept possessions, six marks)
“CJ got a bit of attention from the opposition, but had some big 1v1 moments defensively and was able to take two contested marks, had a really crucial 1v1 moment in the last quarter they were out and he saved us which was huge. And we spoke about this with CJ post-game, when he defends really strongly, he’s such a good player that his offensive traits just take over from there. So a good return from CJ, and now it’s just about being consistent in those areas, his defence, his contest and knowing that his offence will take care of itself.”
Henry Hustwaite (One goal, 20 disposals, seven clearances)
“Really proud of Huss, obviously his 21st birthday too on Sunday. He got a heavy tag, ridiculously heavy tag, which is great and he did not raise the issue once, he did it with a smile on his face and was willing to sacrifice his game for others. But what he was able to do, he still finished with 20 disposals, seven clearances, so he’s one of our leading clearance players with Noodle on the ground, kicked a goal himself, 13 contested possessions, from 20 disposals. So I still think he was one of the more dominant players on the ground in all honesty, but what he did to work for his teammates and help others has shown a real growth in Henry’s game, his ability to do that stuff. And also his teammates to work for him and help him out was really pleasing to see.”
Sam Butler (20 disposals, four marks, four tackles)
“Great to have Butsy back on some managed minutes, got through really strongly. Started forward, but went on ball as well, had his four clearances, four tackles as we know Butsy can do, finished with his 20 (disposals). His work rate and ability to help out number is something that can’t be lost, doesn’t always get the ball but he just pushes so hard and works contest to contest to help out number and it’s a great asset to have and definitely helped us on Sunday.”
Cody Anderson (One goal, 20 disposals, three clearances)
“Tough game again from Codes for his physical and mental toughness, worked really hard in the 20 metre bubble, had just the three clearances, spent some time forward, especially in the last quarter. Obviously for Codes we’re continuing to work on the defensive transition, scanning and making sure he’s involved in the system defence, which he’s working really hard on and doing a great job in learning that side of the game which is always one of the biggest challenges when you step into an elite environment.”
Seamus Mitchell (17 disposals, four contested possessions, two marks)
“Shammy was another inclusion this week after obviously missing the week with his ankle. Not a huge day for Shammy all in all, only the 17 disposals, only the one score involvement, so not a huge impactful game from Shammy. But late in the game we saw a bit of his run and dash where Frosty nearly kicked a goal just before the siren and that was from the run and dash of Shammy. Sometimes we have these games as players, just didn’t have his normal influence on the game, that can happen after missing a week, so hopefully he can bounce back after the bye and be ready to really step in and go back to playing the footy we know he can play. No concerning moments from him by any means, just not his normal influence.”
Ned Reeves (Three goals, 40 hitouts, five marks)
“Probably the best player on the ground, from 13 touches, seven clearances, 13 score involvements, so effectively of his 13 touches, every one has resulted in a score, obviously it counts hit outs as well. Kicked three goals one, two big goals in the last quarter, was able to take some marks around the ground, two contested marks. I just thought he was easily the most dominant player on the ground, really stood tall when we needed him to, played as a forward in the last quarter, took some crucial marks and was one of the big reasons why we were able to get the result in the end.”
Sam Frost (12 disposals, nine intercept possessions, three marks)
“Super, reliable. Had some moments, probably offensively, where he could’ve been a bit calmer with ball in hand rather than just blast kick but his energy and his contest, his ability to work with his teammates out was elite. He’s had 12 disposals, pretty much at 90 percent but as I said maybe some times with the ball in the back end where he could’ve been a little bit calmer and composed with ball in hand. But his attitude, his by in, his love, his contest is something that we value really highly and he defends the ground really strongly for us.”
Luke Breust (Three goals, 12 disposals, four marks)
“A great game from Punky. Only the 12 disposals, six of those resulted in a score, kicked three goals two, four tackles which is the real side of the game we like to see from Punky, laid a big tackles early in the game which resulted in Jai kicking the first goal. His work rate just looked better this week, was able to get into a lot more dangerous spots and kicked 3.2 so he’s had five shots at goal, a great return.”
Max Ramsden (11 disposals, five marks, four inside 50s)
“Bit like Shammy, just a quieter day for Rama. Not a huge impact on the game, second rucked for the majority of the day for us. Just the 11 disposals, took his five marks, one contested, so not a huge day for Rama, but sometimes it’s just not your day. It’s a great mentality test for him now to bounce back, whether it be at AFL or VFL level, when his opportunity comes again, to step up and be ready and get back to the footy we know he can play. We probably missed him with a bit of inside 50 connection a little bit this week, but as I mentioned, sometimes you have those games. But still his effort and attitude and ability to be involved in the game was still strong, from his 11 four score involvements, three free kicks for, so it’s a good challenge for these young men, you’re not going to play well every game, we’d love to but sometimes we don’t.”
James Blanck (11 disposals, eight intercept possessions, six marks)
“Had a job on Brodie McLaughlin, the leading goal kicker, yes he kicked three but he kicked three from only six touches. And I know Brodie, coached him in the VFL State Game and he doesn’t need many opportunities, he’s a great kick at goal. But I thought Blancky did an exceptional job, whilst also defending him really hard, was able to take four intercept marks which were all contested, and win the ball back. The thing that probably cost Blancky a few times was discipline, three free kicks against and arguably some of those result in Brodie’s goals. But a great match up, I thought Blancky did an exceptional job to keep the leading goal kicker to six touches, three goals but still his effort to apply himself and want to do that role for the team was great.”
Will McCabe (10 disposals, four marks, three contested possessions)
“Great learning day for Will again. Will’s working really hard on his transition both ways, so he works really hard for us in his offence and now he’s working to tick over the defensive side of his transition. The growth that I loved in this young man’s game was we put him behind the ball late in the game and I thought he did a great job. He did it a couple times early in the year and he was a bit confused, but this week looked a loit more comfortable in the role and was able to execute which was great reward for the young man. Didn’t have huge numbers but his effort and energy when it was required was really strong.”
Matt Hill (One goal, six disposals, two score involvements)
“Hilly hit the scoreboard again for us, three score involvements. The thing we’re working on with Hilly is, and this is the thing when you’re converting from one sport to another, is his second efforts, so he’s applying great pressure early, although he didn’t have a tackle, but his pressure is the chase, but then not give up on that, stay involved in the chase because majority of the time the tackle is in the next phase of play. So he’s learning that, working really hard on his game and I think the fact he’s hitting the scoreboard and looking dangerous in front of centre is really pleasing and he got missed a few times with that forward half connection.”
Jasper Scaife (One goal, five disposals, three marks)
“Scaifey hit the scoreboard again, which we always want our forward to do. Working on his contests both aerially and ground. We moved him into the ruck in the second half, just to get him up in and around the ball to get some more momentum so when he went forward, he felt like he’d been in the game. I thought he had some contests that were really solid but some moments in his game he’s got to continue to work really hard on his reaction to defend or empty out to defend the ground really quickly, can be a bit slow at times in that space. But attitude, Scaifey’s working really hard on his game, it’s just simplifying it and getting back to how he was playing at the start of the season.”
A few VFL player shout outs…
Sam Durdin (12 disposals, six score involvements, five marks)
“Durds came back into the side after being out for a few weeks and has not complained once, just ‘mate I’ll be ready whenever you need me’ and was he ready, he stepped in, played a role. Although he didn’t kick a goal, kicked four behinds and they were all obviously gettable goals but I thought he competed really hard in front of the ball, took some big marks late in the game, in the fourth quarter which was huge. And he’s just a great leader, you talk to Punky about him and he really enjoys playing with Durds because of his communication and leadership so shout out to him.”
Ben Cavarra (15 disposals, four score involvements, four tackles)
“Second game back in for Benny Cav. His leadership, his composure with ball in hand, so I spoke about Frenchie with his composure in front of centre, and Cav was another one who in front of centre was really composed with ball in hand and made great decisions. From 15 (disposals) had four score involvements and just played his role really well, executed really well with four tackles.”
