The brown and gold is well represented in the Smithy’s VFL Team of the Year squad, with four Hawks named in the 40-player squad.
Three AFL-listed Hawks in Jai Serong, Henry Hustwaite and Ned Reeves have been included, alongside VFL-listed Kye Declase.
Following a 2024 Col Austen Trophy (Box Hill Best and Fairest win) Jai Serong has had another stellar season at the level.
The 22-year-old has played 19 games this season, missing just one game. Playing across both half-back and the wing, Serong has averaged 21 disposals and kicked three goals.
On four occasions, he finished with 20-plus disposals and 10-plus marks in Round 8 against the Gold Coast Suns (28 disposals, 11 marks), against the Brisbane Lions in Round 9 (26 and 12), Round 15 against Sandringham (27 and 10), and in Round 17 against Williamstown (25 and 11).
Henry Hustwaite has had a career-best year in the VFL, playing 16 games with Box Hill as well as four senior appearances with Hawthorn.
The midfielder is averaging 30 disposals and nine clearances per game. In 10 of his 16 games, the 21-year-old has managed 30-plus disposals.
His best games by the numbers came in Round 2 against North Melbourne where he collected a career-high 38 disposals and had 12 clearances. Plus his most recent outing in the Hawks Semi Final clash with the Lions, he finished with 37 disposals and 11 clearances.
Ned Reeves has been the most dominant ruck in the VFL in 2025, setting the tone for Box Hill through the middle and around the ground.
Reeves had played 16 games at the level this season, averaging 37 hitouts, 15 disposals a game and has booted 13 goals to date. Astonishingly, the 26-year-old has racked up more hitouts than any other opposing ruckman in each game this year.
His best games to date were in Round 4 against Geelong where he recorded 50 hitouts, 15 disposals and a goal. As well as Round 17 against Williamstown, with 40 hitouts and three goals, two of which came late in the fourth to seal Box Hill’s victory.
In his first season with the Mustangs, Kye Declase has been a valuable asset to the Hawks forward line.
Declase’s years of experience at the level have been evident in his 15 games played so far, with the versatile winger averaging 19 disposals and has slotted 12 goals.
The 28-year-old kicked multiple goals on five occasions, with his best games coming in Round 5 against Port Melbourne with 26 disposals and two goals, and in Round 14 against North Melbourne where he had three goals and 13 disposals.
The final Team of the Year will be announced on Monday 15 September at the VFL / VFL Awards Night.
