Accuracy, experience, class and intimate home ground knowledge were the prevailing factors in an entertaining round 16 VFL match with the fifth placed and finals bound Box Hill Hawks shaking off a determined 11th placed VFL Cats team 13-21-(99) to 8-14-(62) on Sunday afternoon.

Jeremy Laidler (23 disposals, 6 marks), Taylor Hunt (24 disposals, 7 marks), Jack Hollmer (17 disposals, 4 tackles), Ryan Gamble (22 disposals, 5 marks) and Jonathan Simpkin (28 disposals, 4 marks) all made a significant contribution in a match where the Cats once again wasted opportunities to apply scoreboard pressure over a more experienced opponent.

The lead up to the match was not ideal with the Cats losing the forward line trio of superstar spearhead James Podsiadly (AFL), leading goal kicker Ben Johnson (shoulder) and Nathan Vardy (general soreness) before the ball had been bounced. Marcus Drum joined them on the sidelines after sustaining an ankle injury in the Round 15 clash against the Gold Coast Suns.

The Cats had plenty to play for with AFL spots on the line and VFL listed stalwart Jackson Hollmer playing his 50th match with the Cats. Hollmer, who had been sidelined for the majority of the year with a serious elbow injury, became just the 6th VFL listed player behind James Byrne (94), Adam Cook (63), Matthew Firman (58), Jay Cheep (55) and Corey Bauer (51) to play 50 VFL matches for the Cats. While at the other end of the spectrum Koroit tall forward Ben Dobson was making his VFL debut for the Cats after some strong recent performances in the Hampden Football League.

After winning the toss the Cats looked the best side for much of the first half and at one stage held a 19 point lead over their much fancied opponents. It was a number of the younger Cats who were sparking the Cats in the early stages. Jack Weston’s blistering pace combined with Steven Motlop’s magic touch around the ball gave the Cats a number of scoring opportunities. Unfortunately though, as has been the case for much of 2010, the Cats wasted a number of valuable scoring opportunities - kicking 3 goals, 6 behinds in the first quarter to lead by just 5 points at the first break.

The Cats continued to play a determined brand of football early in the 2nd quarter and kicked back to back goals into the wind. At the 13 minute mark of the quarter however, the momentum shifted dramatically with the Box Hill Hawks dominating proceedings from there on. The return of retired Hawthorn premiership ruckman Robert Campbell paid immediate dividends as he used his Hulk like frame to give the Hawks midfield first use all afternoon. He also went forward to kick an important goal late in the second term and put Box Hill 3 points up going into the main break.

The second half got under way with Jack Weston doing his best to secure the ‘VFL Goal of the Year’ with a brilliant running goal from the boundary that gave the Cats the early lead. Unfortunately then it was some (all too regular) undisciplined play from the Cats that gave Carl Peterson an easy shot on goal and Box Hill the lead. From this point on the match was a cakewalk for the Mustang turned Hawks outfit. A Beau Muston mark and goal extended the lead beyond two goals at three quarter time break.

As for the final quarter - the less said the better - as the Hawks dominated proceedings in a lack lustre final quarter that seemed to go for an eternity. Once the period of eternity did end it was the home side victorious by 37 points.

Following some recent good form, the Box Hill Hawks opted for a tight tag on Simon Hogan and the decision looked to pay dividends with the 4th year midfielder picking up 15 disposals and having little impact on the match. The presence of power forward Ben Johnson was also sorely missed, as he has filled the void of James Podsiadly this year by providing the Cats with a strong target up forward.

Hogan was joined in the ‘quiet’ column by first year players Daniel Menzel, Mitch Duncan and Josh Cowan who have all made an outstanding contribution in their first year in the system.

The Cats defence once again held firm all day under severe pressure, with Jeremy Laidler, Jack Hollmer, Matthew Firman, Ryan Gamble and Tom Gillies holding their own for the majority of the contest.

For the Hawthorn aligned Box Hill Hawks there was much to like about the polished performance. The AFL listed quartet of Brendan Whitecross (26 disposals, 14 marks, 3 clearances), Ryan Shoenmakers (27 disposals, 8 marks, 3 tackles), Liam Shiels (35 disposals, 7 marks, 3 tackles) and Jarrad Kayler-Thomson (26 disposals, 5 marks) were instrumental in the second half surge, where the Hawks kicked seven goals to three.

After the game young VFL midfielder Daniel Jull described it as a physically draining contest that became a bit too much for the young Cats outfit. “Yeah I pulled up pretty sore after I copped a knock on the knee and just needed to ice it up straight away. It was a pretty physical game and we just got overrun in the end which was disappointing”.

With only two games remaining in 2010 for the Bendigo Bank Cats, it doesn’t get any easier with matches against the 4th placed Port Melbourne and 2nd place North Ballarat to come.

The difficult ‘back to back’ mission will be assisted by the return of Ben Johnson, Marcus Drum, Nathan Vardy and possibly AFL premiership hero Max Rooke from injury next week.

For Geelong fans heading up to Etihad Stadium this Saturday night to watch the big Geelong Cats Vs Western Bulldogs clash, why not head up earlier and get along to TEAC Oval, Port Melbourne to watch the Bendigo Bank Cats take on the in form Port Melbourne Borough.

Match commences at 2pm.

Box Hill Hawks 13-21-(99)
Geelong Cats 8-14-(62)
Goals: Weston 2, Simpson, Motlop, Hunt, Allwright, Simpkin, Dobson 1
Best: Laidler, T.Hunt, Hollmer, Gamble, Simpkin, Firman
Injuries: Nil
Reports: Nil