The Box Hill Hawks put together a scintillating final term to overcome a spirited Sandringham at City Oval on Sunday afternoon, retaining the Blue Ribbon Cup and improving the Club’s head-to head record against the Zebras to 20-1-1 since 2009.

The visitors kicked the opening goal of the term via Alex Dodson and enjoyed a good spell of possession and territory in the early going, as both sides battled to find their rhythm.

When the momentum did swing the Hawks’ way, the boys in brown and gold would likely consider themselves a touch wasteful. Kicking to the scoreboard end, the hosts peppered the Zebras’ defensive 50 but managed just 1.5  in 10 minutes of dominant footy.

Veteran Luke Breust booted a classy goal to get his side on the board, before Jake Arundell and Mitch Lewis kicked back-to-back majors to give their side a lead which better reflected the balance of play.

16-points to the good at the first break, the Hawks could’ve and probably should’ve lead by more. Box Hill’s 10 scoring shots and superior field position had amounted to just 3.7 and left the door ajar for Sandy to regroup and come again.

Early goals to Hugh Boxshall and Jonah Campigli drew the Zebras to within four points, only for Mitch Lewis to kick a second to re-instate his side’s double-digit lead.

Looking to consolidate their advantage, Box Hill continued to push but couldn’t find the breakthrough they desired. Sandringham were doing well to keep the Hawks at bay and nearing time on got some reward for effort. 

A Max Heath goal after nineteen minutes pulled the visitors to within touching distance, but it was the final goal of a delicately poised, hotly contested opening half and Box Hill went to the rooms five-points ahead.

When play got back underway Ned Maginness – who made his state league debut for the Hawks last season – kicked truly to give his side their first lead since mid-way through the opening quarter. 

Trent Bianco booted a rare but very timely goal mid-way through the frame to wrestle back the lead as the contest ticked towards time on, and Box Hill’s return of 4.11 became 5.13 a short while later when Blake Simondson read the ball off hands, roved cleanly and ran into an open goal.

While they had regained a measure of control around the ball and on the scoreboard, the Hawks had been thus far unable to finish their work to gap their opponents.

Dashing wingman Kye Declase kicked a crucial goal nearing the three quarter time siren to give the hosts a 20-point lead and, finally, the scoreboard better reflected the balance of play.

Needing to go on the attack to get something out of the game, Sandringham did their work early in the last term. Boxshall’s second came inside a minute, Lance Collard kicked truly two minutes later and Jez Rigoni added another two minutes after that to set up a frantic run to the finish line.

A Lance Collard behind tied the scores after seven minutes and, all of a sudden, it was the Hawks who had to respond. 

But this Box Hill outfit don’t sit atop the VFL ladder by accident. 

Mitch Lewis marked superbly and kicked a monster goal to give his side back the lead, he then halved a crucial 50/50 at half-forward, gathered the loose ball and found Calsher Dear in acres of space out the back 90 seconds later.

Dear was again in the right place at the right time 90 seconds further removed, kicking his second to extend the Hawks’ lead to 18-points, before the surging and superb Finn Maginness bounced his way through the heart of City Oval and spotted up the leading Jake Arundell deep in attack. Arundell’s second was the fourth Box Hill goal in six minutes – but the hosts weren’t home and hosed just yet.

Dear executed a brilliant run-down tackle a short while later and finished his work to take his tally for the day to 3.3 and effectively ice the game – but there was time enough for more.

Breust kicked his second and Arundell added a third as time expired in front of a sensational crowd at City Oval.

From the time the teams were tied away at 56-apiece early in the final term, the Hawks booted 7.2 to 0.0 to claim a 44-point win and all four premiership points.

The chief destroyers were the trio of Calsher Dear, Mitch Lewis and Jake Arundell – each of whom kicked three goals for the afternoon – and the experienced Luke Breust, who chimed in with a double of his own.

Come the final siren the Hawks had managed 86 more disposals, tallied 13 more inside 50s, laid 18 more tackles, hauled in 27 more marks and despite finishing -40 in hit outs won clearance 32-31.

Jai Serong was named Box Hill’s best on the day for his commanding performance in the back six. His 27 touches were bettered only by teammates Henry Hustwaite and Finn Maginness, while his 10 marks was a game-high. He also chimed in with five inside 50s and two clearances in a confident display.

Second and third best for the Hawks went to the twin towers of Calsher Dear and Mitch Lewis who, as mentioned before, combined for six goals. The pair grew in influence as the game went on and, ultimately, proved too much to handle for their Sandringham opponents in the air and in front of goal.

They pulled down 13 marks between them (eight to Lewis) and evenly split 10 score involvements. As if to underline his work rate around the ball, Dear also contributed six tackles – ranking him no.3 on the ground in that category.

Acting captain Stu Horner won his place among Box Hill’s best for another diligent and impressive display in the back 50. The Hawks’ longest serving acting player is in a rich vein of form at the moment and delivered 19 touches and eight marks to go with his four inside 50s and four tackles – but, as always, it was quality of the job he did on dangerous Sandy small Lance Collard which caught the coaches’ eye. Collard recorded just five touches and kicked a single goal.

And, finally, in a shock to nobody the midfield pair of Henry Hustwaite and Finn Maginness were again excellent, with the pair leading all-comers on the ground with 28 touches apiece. 

Hustwaite won eight clearances and Maginness six; Maginness laid a game-high nine tackles, while Hustwaite finished with five; Hustwaite was the no.2 ranked player on the ground for score involvements with seven, while Maginness’ six inside 50s were good enough to rank third among all players.

Other notable contributors were wingman Kye Declase, who recorded 21 touches, took seven marks and kicked a goal; Cody Anderson, who finished with 23 disposals, five clearances and five tackles; and, finally, Jake Arundell, who slotted 3.2 from 16 disposals as a high half-forward.

Hawthorn-listed half-back Jack Scrimshaw was tidy on return from a minor hamstring niggle, winning 21 disposals.

Box Hill return to action next Saturday afternoon, hosting Essendon at Box Hill City Oval from 2:05pm.

Best: Serong, Dear, Lewis, Horner, Hustwaite, Maginness

Goals: Lewis, Dear, Arundell 3, Breust 2, Simondson, Declase, Bianco

Disposals: Maginness 28, Hustwaite 28, Serong 27, Anderson 23, Scrimshaw 21, Declase 21