The Box Hill Hawks have unveiled Stu Horner as the Captain ahead of the 2026 season.
The 28-year-old veteran is currently the longest serving Box Hill player, having joined the club in 2016 playing in the club’s Development League.
Horner has been part of the leadership group since 2021, including serving as Vice-Captain for the past three seasons.
The talented and reliable defender was also awarded Life Membership in 2025.
Horner made his senior debut for the Mustangs in 2017, playing 82 VFL (plus 27 Development League) games in the brown and gold to date.
The change comes on the heels of former captain Cal Porter announcing his retirement from VFL football last week, after leading the Hawks for the past three seasons.
Box Hill General Manager of Football Annelie Smith congratulated Horner on his appointment.
“Stu has shown the utmost dedication to the program and leads by example on and off the field,” Smith said.
“He’s highly respected within our four walls and embodies our club's values.
“It was a unanimous decision to appoint him in the role and we look forward to seeing him lead the from the front in 2026.”
Box Hill’s VFL program is under new leadership with not only Horner as skipper, but former Box Hill premiership captain David Mirra returning to the club as senior coach.
