Forwards Coach Adrian Hickmott shares his thoughts on each of his player's 2026 season.

See the full video below:

MITCH LEWIS

"Mitch Lewis had a great year, playing the most games of any season in his career. Throughout the whole year, his contest work and ability to get the ball to ground were really important for us. In his last five or six games, he started to take pack marks, especially that crucial one in the final. His leadership off the field was also critical; we often talk about Jack Gunston doing that, but Mitch really grew in that area too. He was a livewire and a great motivator in training and meetings, and his pure love of the game really stands out."

NICK WATSON

"Nick is fantastic, he's an extremely impressive and very humble young man. He diligently works on his craft, and when you combine that extra work with his natural talent, it really shows on the ground. The crowd roars when he's just running to the football, let alone when he has it in his hands. He is equally impressive off the field with his opposition analysis, and his passion for the game is evident. He's a very tough player who consistently wins half-contests and uses the ball extremely well."

DYLAN MOORE

"We almost call him the work-rate king. The amount of work he does in the gym, at training, and most definitely on the field makes him our leader in that area of the ground. If our young forwards are not working hard enough, he is able to get them into a good space to improve. His leadership in our line meetings is fantastic, and he certainly knows how to win the ball and kick goals."

CONNOR MACDONALD

"Connor is very impressive. He completed a whole pre-season in the midfield over the summer and then came back to the forward line without losing his forward craft, which shows just how talented we think he is. He earned a stint at some center bounces, giving us quick legs in the midfield, and he is incredibly exciting with the ball in hand. While he can definitely kick a thrilling goal, his team defense also genuinely improved this year, which I am very happy with."

CALSHER DEAR

"Calsher played a few AFL games throughout the season, experiencing his fair share of ups and downs. However, it was great to see him go back to Box Hill towards the end of the year and put together seven or eight really impressive games. He was jumping for the ball, landing on his feet, tackling, and chasing and now he is a Box Hill premiership player."

MABIOR CHOL

"His good form was still very good, and that's what we take out of his year. His defensive pressure, chase-down efforts, and launching for marks were solid, and we cannot forget the positive energy he injects into our culture. He is always smiling, loves being around the club, and thrives on helping other players enjoy their time here too."

JACK GUNSTON

"What stands out in my mind straight away is his willingness to look after his body and get it into the best shape possible for game day. That takes hard work; when you're a senior player like Jack, you have to know exactly when to stop training and when to push yourself. We all know about his leadership on and off the field, but his dynamic movement and ability to kick goals under pressure were truly impressive. For our young forwards and even players like Mitch Lewis and Mabior Chol to witness that composure in front of goal is exactly what we're after."

CAM NAIRN

"He is a very exciting left-footer who continued to improve as the year went on. In terms of his football development, he played a few AFL games before going back to Box Hill to work on his craft, ultimately becoming a VFL premiership player. He is a really impressive young man who reads the play well, plays tough, and can really launch for the ball for a player of his height."

JACK GINNIVAN

"Overall, we are very pleased with his season. He had a couple of slight back injuries to work through, which he managed really well. While the injuries niggled him, it was pleasing to see the way he finished off the year. He is a very smart, intelligent footballer; his tactical mind was a huge asset not only in our forward line but across the entire team."

JACK DALTON

"He is a fantastic runner, a beautiful left-foot kick, and makes great decisions with the football. He suffered a knee injury that set him back slightly, missing about six weeks. However, coming back into the Box Hill side to become a premiership player was fantastic. I walked into the rooms after the Box Hill grand final, and he had the biggest smile on his face. His sheer love for the game just exudes from him, and it was great to see."

MAX BEATTIE

"I asked him about playing in the finals, and he just mentioned how loud and quick it was, and how exciting that environment is. He works closely with Wizard, and they have built a great relationship. He is learning a lot from Wizard regarding work rate and football smarts. Max is a tough young man who can run all day and possesses great goal sense, so we are really pleased with his progress."

MATT HILL

"He is tough as nails; I think that is the best way to describe him. His background as a rugby player really helps him in the contest. He performed well in the AFL games he played, and he maintained that standard when he went back to Box Hill. While his form fluctuated slightly, he showed some genuinely tough moments towards the end of the season, and we are excited to have him back again next year."