The Box Hill Hawks showed their class in what was a scrappy affair played out at Box Hill City Oval on Saturday afternoon, defeating the Northern Bullants (11.11) 72 to (9.8) 62.
Box Hill boasted a handful of Hawthorn-listed players including Captain Luke Hodge, Xavier Ellis, Brent Guerra, Tom Murphy, Max Bailey and new recruits Paul Puopolo and Isaac Smith.
The game got off to a slow start with congestion around the ball early in the first quarter.
The 15 minute-mark of the first quarter saw the Hawks’ first goal, with a lovely piece of tap work from Bailey to Hodge saw Brent Guerra slot through a six-pointer.
The Bullants were having the run of the play early in the first term, which changed when Hodge and Riley Milne headed to the centre square and grappled some much needed clearances for the Hawks.
Taylor Duryea and Jordan Lisle each bagged goals late in the first term when the Hawks started to work themselves into the game. Brent Guerra and Leigh Kitchin both had hands in setting up two goals for the Hawks.
The second quarter had little highlights for either side with neither team able to get any free flowing play or ascendancy. Hodge was consistently throwing himself into packs around the ground, while Puopolo was efficient in mopping-up down back.
Xavier Ellis showed his class and kicked the first goal of the term from a pack which had formed in the Hawks’ forward 50. Brent Wallace followed up Ellis’s goal a few minutes later when he jammed the ball onto his left foot in traffic for the second and final goal of the term.
Although the second quarter didn’t hold many highlights, it was played at a high intensity with plenty of tackles and hard hits being made with Puopolo, Milne, Ellis and Guerra all influential around the ground.
Ellis’s clearance work early in the third quarter was invaluable. Hodge was the beneficiary of Ellis’s dominant clearance work as he roved off a pack in the forward 50 and dribbled the ball along the ground with the outside of the foot for the first goal of the second half.
The Bullants staged a comeback in the third quarter kicking 4.3 to the Hawks’ 1.2.
Box Hill had enough possession in the third term but were wasteful with their forward 50 entries. Isaac Smith and Taylor Duryea both missed shots in the third term; however both were proved to be handy options around the forward 50.
As scores were level heading into the final quarter, Luke Hodge was sent to the backline to play his famous quarter-back role.
Ryan Jackson impressed in the last quarter for the Hawks, kicking the first goal of the final quarter from a down-the-ground free kick.
Ellis was again dominant in the centre winning many clearances in an important last quarter. David Mirra was involved in crucial play in the last term, chasing from the back 50 to the wing to catch an opponent, and then following-up with second and third effort to lock the ball in on the wing.
Puopolo was fantastic around the ball in the final term, making tackles and consistently finding himself at the bottom of the packs.
Jarrad Boumann was also crucial in the final term playing at full-back. Isaac Smith kicked a goal on the run from a Ben Fagan pass to kick the sealer for the Hawks who ran away with a 10 point victory.
Box Hill now go into their Round 1 clash against Port Melbourne next week at Box Hill City Oval after consecutive pre-season victories.
Box Hill: 4.2 6/.6 / 7.8 / 11.11.72
Bullants: 3.1 / 3.5 / 7.8 / 9.8.62
Best: Puopulo, Ellis, Guerra, Mirra, Fagan
Goals: Ellis 2, Hoegel 2, Guerra, Durea, Lisle, Wallace, Hodge, Jackson, Smith
