The Box Hill Hawks saw off the challenge of a spirited Coburg on Saturday afternoon, better handling the blustery conditions at Barry Plant Park to run out 38-point winners.

The result improves Zane Littlejohn’s charges to nine-and-two on the season just in time for a second byes of 2025.

With a strong and often swirly breeze blowing across the ground, it was important for both sides to do the bulk of their scoring with the wind; and it was something Box Hill were able to accomplish, booting a touch over two thirds of their final score in the first and third terms.

Having worked hard for a slender advantage come half-time, the defining period of the contest came in the early phases of the third quarter, during which the visitors kicked 4.3 in just five minutes to turn an 8-point advantage into a 35-point lead.

In ended up being a spell which saw the Hawks set Coburg the task of more than doubling their score in the final term to achieve an unlikely run chase – something the Lions never seriously looked like doing.

The key statistical indicators impress a game decided by efficiency. Coburg worked hard to finish +9 in total disposals, +5 in inside 50s, -3 in clearances and +25 in marks; crucially, however, the Lions created 13 fewer scoring shots and, as a result, lead for just one minute early on in the match-up.

Jesse Corigliano opened the scoring in his 150th game for Coburg with a behind, but Finn Maginness’ long-range opener a short time later set his side on their way. 

Sam Frost, playing forward on the day, kicked his first of three goals after 10 minutes, before Will McCabe further consolidated the Hawks’ lead as the term ticked into time on.

A flurry of behinds followed, with Luke Breust and Billy Hicks watching on as half chances sailed agonisingly wide to send the teams the first change separated by 19-points.

The Hawks had done well to keep Coburg goalless, but weren’t to know if the three goals they managed back the other way were even par.

Two early strikes drew the Lions to within seven-points once the second frame got underway, before Bailey Macdonald linked up with multiple teammates to kick a superb running goal – the first goal of the afternoon into the breeze.

Milestone man Corigliano was a popular goal kicker as the term progressed, but Box Hill youngster Billy Hicks was opportunistically on hand to cancel it just five minutes later.

Big man Ned Reeves marked some 40 metres out directly in front, but unselfishly hooked a pass to the waiting Hicks, who played on and drilled his second VFL goal a week after kicking his first.

Coburg found a fourth goal of a decent quarter right at the death, with Kyle Weightman’s strike hauling his side to within eight points at the long break.

When play resumed the Hawks set about gapping the Lions, knowing a strong quarter could well produce an unassailable lead and make the conditions a non-factor in the last.

As they had done at the end of the first term, Hicks and Breust saw shots at goal drift wide to start the third – but the die had been cast and the table set for what was to come.

Sam Frost kicked goals two and three on the day, before Breust and Jake Arundell chimed in with their first goals of the afternoon. The Hawks had blown the game apart with four majors in barely five minutes.

Arundell kicked a second in amongst four frustrating misses from various teammates, indicating a strong term could well have been a spectacular one, but not even a late Coburg goal – from Josh D’Intinosante – could dull the feeling Box Hill had probably done enough to claim the points.

Any concerns the contest was still alive when the players returned to their positions was quashed when Ethan Stanley punched a kick low, into the breeze and through the uprights within a minute of play resuming to extend the margin to 45-points.

A pair of Coburg goals bookended a trio of minor scores from both sides, before Reeves – who’d been excellent on the day – found himself forward, marked and kicked truly to put a full stop on his and the team’s professional display.

Cam Mackenzie was adjudged to be Box Hill’s standout player on the day, finishing with 29 touches, an equal team-high nine clearances, five marks, four inside 50s and four score involvements. Mackenzie’s poise and class was on full display as he set about giving his side ascendancy inside the contest and through the middle of the ground.

The Hawthorn no.28 was ably assisted around the ball by the man just a few lockers down: Finn Maginness. Averaging 29 touches in his last 11 VFL matches, Maginness tallied 30 on Saturday. This team-high figure was comprised of 17 contested disposals, nine clearances, six tackles, four marks, seven score involvements and one goal as he provided the brown and gold with drive out of stoppage and spread across the ground.

Ruckman Ned Reeves’ experience told, as he tapped his way to the title of dominant big man on the ground. ‘Noodle’s 43 hit-outs was comfortably the best on the ground, while he also chimed in with a goal, four clearances, five marks and a game-high 10 score involvements from 16 touches.

Defensive duo Stu Horner and James Blanck were two more names to impress on Saturday. Horner’s 19 touches and eight marks brought a measure of calm to a Box Hill back six which spent portions of the game under pressure; while Blanck was tasked with subduing Coburg spearhead Mitch Podhajski. The Lions’ focal point in attack came into the match with a league best 33 goals to his name, but failed to register a score in a big win for Blanck and Box Hill.

Last among the Hawks best players was experienced swingman Sam Frost. Deployed forward and tasked with providing his team with a contest ahead of the ball, ‘Frosty’ did just that.

His 14 disposals included a game-high three goals, while his eight marks was an equal-team high. Best of all was his work-rate to be an option up the ground and someone through which Box Hill could move the ball with and without the wind.

Others to play well were half-forward Jake Arundell, who kicked two classy goals from 22 disposals; Jai Serong, who returned to his customary role behind the ball and was a rock all afternoon, winning 23 touches and a game-high 10 rebound 50s; and Trent Bianco, who roamed half-back on his way to 22 disposals and five score involvements. 

The Hawks will enjoy a well-earned break next weekend, returning to action on Saturday 28 June.

Best: Mackenzie, Maginness, Reeves, Horner, Blanck, Frost

Goals: Frost 3, Arundell 2, Stanley, Reeves, McCabe, Maginness, Macdonald, Hicks, Breust

Disposals: Maginness 30, Mackenzie 29, Serong 23, Bianco 22, Arundell 22, Horner 19, Declase 19