In a big win away from home, the Box Hill Hawks took a dominant 44-point victory over third-placed Southport.

VFL Senior Coach Zane Littlejohn was impressed with his side's performance overall, with some spirited individual efforts across the board.

Littlejohn and his side turn their attention to hosting a second-place Footscray Bulldogs outfit at Box Hill City Oval this weekend.

“Big game this week again, against second on the ladder, the challenge we want,” he said.

“We’re going to play against a really healthy VFL team who I think have got 17 or 18 AFL-listed players, which is exactly the challenge we want.

“Every game this time of year is a big game, so we just want to continue to improve and get better and give ourselves the best opportunity to have a good tilt at the end of the year.”

Before Round 20 is played this Saturday, read Littlejohn’s individual reviews of each AFL-listed Hawk below.

Cam Mackenzie (28 disposals, seven score involvements, five clearances)

“I think he sort of slid under the radar a bit and was able to produce one of his better games for us this year. He was a dominant midfielder on the ground, was able to find space, his 20-metre bubble work was really pleasing and in hand with his clearance work. A really nice game from Cam and a very damaging game, I guess you could say as well, especially front of centre, which is really pleasing. In hand with his defensive transition and running and all that as well on that nice big ground which is really important.”

Jai Serong (27 disposals, 10 intercept possessions, seven marks)

“Did a great job. Played all game down back this week and I thought he did a really good job. Defended the ground really really well, was really strong in the contest, took some great intercept marks, he had 10 intercept possessions. And then he was also able to help with some offence, execution wasn’t quite at the level he would like, especially by foot but was still able to have some real good influence in the contest and at times playing undersized, so a really great performance from him in his well-known position down back again.”

Changkuoth Jiath (One goal, 24 disposals, nine marks)

“CJ's first half as a halfback was dominant. He had some good intercepts, some good run and carry and looked lively, which was really pleasing. Then in the second half, we moved him to a wing and he was damaging, he hit the scoreboard, really good offence but also really good defensive running and positioning. It’s been a while since he’s been out on the wing but took like a duck to water in the end and really gave us a great game on the wing as well as halfback. Just a really well-balanced game from CJ,  offensively and defensively, which is what we want to see, keeping him in form and putting his hand up ready for AFL selection when he’s required.”

Sam Butler (22 disposals, four marks, four clearances)

“Butsy was Butsy, his running capacity and power was great. Probably brought himself into a little bit of trouble this week with his decision making with ball in hand, but when you’re playing a top three side, those decisions need to be more precise and he probably got caught out a couple times bit in that space. But the fact that he got ball in hand particularly in front of centre. He used his running power, his pressure and his tackling around the contest which is great.”

Ned Reeves (One goal, 32 hitouts, 19 disposals)

“Really dominant in the ruck, he had the nine clearances as well. I think the pleasing thing and what we’re loving seeing from Noodle at the moment is his ability to take marks around the ground and hit the scoreboard as well, kicked another goal and was obviously the most dominant big man on the ground for the day. So another great return from Noodle.”

Henry Hustwaite (19 disposals, 15 contested possessions, nine clearances)

“Henry was sat on again and had some attention, which is great for his development. Although probably frustrating to get that attention, but the fact that he got that attention was a great sign of the season he’s had. He worked his way through that, still managed to have nine clearances, the highest clearance player on the ground. It just shows the quality of the player and what he’s developed into. He’s got some work to still do on how to handle particular situations but he’s developing really nicely in that space and great to see him put in a really solid performance again.”

Bodie Ryan (17 disposals, six intercept possessions, six contested possessions)

“A game of two halves for Bodie, first half was disappointing, didn’t quite defend the ground or put himself defensively as we would’ve liked and therefore probably didn’t impact the game offensively as he would’ve and we would’ve liked. But credit to the young man and Arryn Siposs reset him at half-time and I thought his second half was pleasing and was able to have the influence we know he can have. But it started off the back of how he positioned himself defensively, which then allowed him to be involved offensively.”

Max Ramsden (Three goals, 16 disposals, six marks)

“I thought he was going to tear the game open in the first quarter, was super dominant, took five marks inside 50, three of them contested, kicked three goals three, had 16 touches and 11 score involvements, not a bad game from Ramma. When he got near the ball and was around the ball, something good happened. Went a little quiet in the second half, but all in all was really dangerous in front of the ball and almost every time it went around him inside 50 we thought he’d do something special and was able to kick his three goals three which is great to see from him. And again, the more pleasing thing was that he took some strong contested marks, which is great as well.”

Jasper Scaife (Three goals, 15 disposals, 10 marks)

“Scaifey was able to hit the scoreboard and kicked some really crucial goals. I think the pleasing thing from my end with Jasper this week was his ability to transition better from offence to defence, still some areas of growth around positioning in that space but we saw some better intent in an area he’s been working on, which is great. Also his contest aerially was solid again without being outstanding. But when we needed someone to hit the scoreboard, Jasper did that, and that was really pleasing, good to see him hit the scoreboard and get back in some form. Hopefully we can keep that form rolling now, and he sees that coming off the back of his work rate and his smarts and his contest, they’re probably the three main areas for Jasper to continue to work on.”

Will McCabe (13 disposals, six marks, two contested possessions)

“First three quarters as a forward, he had the six marks up between the arcs, providing a good outlet on a huge ground. And then moved to the wing in the last quarter in what I thought was his best quarter of the game. We saw him drive his legs, use the ball front of centre and had some good score involvements which is really pleasing. Showing some great flexibility to be able to play on a wing, high forward, deep forward, and we know he can play down back as well. So he’s got some talent, the young man, he’s now just got to find the way to consistently harness that and play four really solid quarters. That’s all part of the development, especially when you’re playing a top-three side like Southport, but the fact that he’s showing flexibility to play dual roles and get himself into a game is great.”

Sam Frost (Two goals, 13 disposals, seven marks)

“Frosty played forward this week, we gave him different challenge, a bit of stimuli, we thought it was a great opportunity to stretch Southport with a bit of height. But what Frosty does bring as well is great speed, pressure and intent and I thought we saw that as a forward this week. Not just his pressure but his leadership to help others bring pressure as well, which is pleasing. Was able to hit the scoreboard, take some crucial marks, I think he took four forward 50 marks, so when you’re able to get a forward to provide that, a target in front of the ball but also bring some pressure, it’s really vital. He brings great energy Frosty, we’re very lucky to have him and he was really vibrant, great to see him get rewarded on the scoreboard.”

Bailey Macdonald (12 disposals, three marks, two score involvements)

“A quieter day for Baz. Not his usual output, both offensively and defensively, was a little slow with his snap behind the ball at times, but I think it probably got better the later the game went on. He was able to have some influence both offensively and defensively which was great.”

James Blanck (10 disposals, five marks, five intercept possessions)

“Solid day for Blancky, played on Wylie Buzza, their key forward. We set him the task and I thought he did a really good job. Like Sez, his contest work was exceptional, some really big kills, some big intercepts, just did his job and was ever reliable for us down there this week. We love what Blancky can give us, it was one of his better games again this week which is great, hopefully he’s finding form at the right end of the year and can keep building on that, put his hand up if needed or have a really good finals series at VFL level.”

Matt Hill (Five disposals, three contested possessions, two inside 50s)

“Second half was more of the Hilly that we know and love, pressure, hitting bodies, tough. The one thing about Hilly, regardless of how he’s performing, we’re seeing a lot of love from him which is great, he’s not going into his shell because he might not be finding the footy and performing. He was able to get some more ball damage in front of centre which is great, used his speed. He’s still learning and developing the game and he’s got some other stuff to focus on now, around his reaction and work rate. The thing we’re seeing with Hilly is when we give him a challenge and a task he’s adapted and developed really really well. To have him bring some forward half pressure and we exposed him to some centre bounce, with his speed and agility and toughness and thought he did a really good job in that as well.”

A few VFL player shout outs…

Stu Horner (18 disposals, six intercept possessions, five marks)

“Again, being Captain while Ports (Cal Porter) has been out, exceptional his leadership but the way he’s performing, just solid and ever reliable. He’s just getting his job done, which is so important, one when he’s the leader of the footy club at the time and two when you’re a defender to play your role, like Stu is, he’s doing a great job in that space.

Trent Bianco (27 disposals, seven contested possessions, five score involvements)

“Trent was the second-highest possession getter for us on the field. Spent some time across half back, wing, mid, can sort of move anywhere, but you know wherever he is, he’s just consistent in his performance, hardly ever looks flustered, looks really composed with ball in hand and makes great decisions. We’re so lucky to have him as part of our program, what a great human, what a great player. He’s part of our leadership group in his first year at our footy club, with Ports out and Kye (Declase) out, he’s so important.”

VFLW Round 14 Results

Carlton               1.0 (6)                    1.0 (6)                    1.0 (6)                    1.1 (7)
Box Hill               0.1 (1)                    0.6 (6)                    2.9 (21)                 4.12 (36)

Goals: S. Butterworth, G. Collingwood, P. Price, M. Van Berkel 

Disposals: R. Dillon (27), T. Cattle (22), M. Van Berkel (21), S. Stevenson (20)

Box Hill’s VFLW side will face Essendon in an Elimination Final at Box Hill City Oval on Saturday 9 August from 11.35am.