The Box Hill Hawks live to fight another day, moving into week two of the VFL finals after thumping the Bendigo Bombers by 65-points at Box Hill City Oval, 20.16.(136) to 10.11.(71).
In the First Elimination Final, a six goal second term all but ended Bendigo’s finals hopes, while a win for the Hawks opens up a second consecutive VFL semi-final in two years.
Box Hill placed the clamps on the Bombers scoring while gaining the hard ball on many more times an occasion, with big performances by Jayden Hoegel and Hawk Jordan Lisle up forward cementing the big win.
Putting to bed their performance against Williamstown the week before, the Hawks looked a threatening team, choc-full of concentration and power - some of which they didn’t show against the Seagulls.
The Hawks worked hard all match and Box Hill coach Brendon Bolton was pleased with the fight of his team who turned around their game back to their best.
“I think finals footy is won and lost in the contested footy, so it was no secret we were down in that area last week and we needed to respond,” Bolton said.
“We’ve got a good group in terms of character and they did respond.
“I thought we set the standard pretty early in the first half.
“Bendigo and obviously Essendon were pretty much decimated with injury, so it was a little bit difficult for them because they were a little bit undermanned than to what they were during the year.
“What we do know is if you give them time and space, they can run and carry and hurt you with their speed and skill level which they did a couple times where they caught as out the back with some fast transition.
“But all in all, I thought we delayed a fair bit of their ball movement which helped us (win the game).” Bolton said.
Gaining the services of Hawks Shane Savage and Jordan Lisle before the bounce was a big victory, with the injection of pace in the middle from Savage tipping extra bite into the Box Hill line-up.
With Bachar Houli returning from injury and Michael Quinn and Jay Neagle back into the Bendigo team, they had support of their own.
Kicking out to an early four goal lead, the Hawks looked the part. Quieting the scoring in Bendigo’s forward half, Box Hill did everything they could to close down the Bombers early.
Inaccuracy in front of goal kept Bendigo in the match, as the Hawks struggled to capitalise after 15 scoring shots only produced a nine-point quarter time lead.
After ramping it up a gear, Bendigo crumbled from then on as the Hawks pulled the trigger. Losing Jason Cloke, Bendigo’s main man in defence in the first quarter didn’t help their chances either.
Jarrod Kayler-Thomson sailed through the opening goal of the second term of a big quarter for the Hawks. Box Hill kicked six goals to a single point, and had all the drive, as an undisciplined Bendigo team were all but out of the match.
A 44-point half-time lead looked to be enough to hold the match, but the Bombers worked hard to find goals with Jarrod Atkinson and Trent Shinners nailing through majors in a three goal quarter for the Bombers.
Box Hill needing to lift their intensity were put up a challenge in the final term and delivered, crushing the eighth placed Bombers to run away with an Elimination Final win on home turf.
The Hawks had 11 individual goal kickers, while all players bar two gained 10 disposals or more, showing the team moved the ball around well with each getting a good touch.
Sam Gibson was outstanding again, providing a running target in the midfield to collect 34 disposals along with two goals in attack. Jarrod Kayler-Thomson was influential in the middle and had leather poisoning throughout the match with the ball always getting in his grip to finish the match with 32 disposals and two goals.
Shane Savage (20) was welcomed back into the side with a good performance, while Ben Fagan (21) and one goal was important, providing a hard bodied forward and man capable of taking a strong mark.
Jayden Hoegel with five goals and Jordan Lisle who kicked four straight, again were huge players in the win using their opportunities to good use.
Jordan Lisle’s contribution was a key part to the win, and Bolton was very happy with his efforts.
“Last week we really struggled to try and get entries into our forward line, but having a tall target like Jordy really helpful today, so it was good that he finished off his work with four goals,” Bolton said.
Riley Milne (20), Liam Shiels (22) and Matt Suckling (20) worked hard all match, with Robbie Campbell (19 hitouts) and Simon Taylor (28) dominated the ruck against Bendigo’s inexperienced ruck stocks.
Luke Breust suffered concussion and was Box Hill’s only injury concern but will be fine for next week.
The win was Box Hill’s second for the season against Bendigo after they defeated the Bombers by 41-points at the same ground in Round 9, and was the Hawks fifth straight win against the Bombers since the trend started early in 2007.
After ending Bendigo’s season, Box Hill’s continues against Port Melbourne next Sunday 5 September in the VFL First Semi-Final at TEAC Oval.
It will be a replay of last years encounter, and the Hawks will be hoping to turn the result around on a positive note. Brendon Bolton said the team was looking forward to the challenge against a team they have had some recent close contests against.
“We’ve built up a really close little rivalry over the last few years,” Bolton said.
“They’ve been really tight games, so I wouldn’t expect anything less this week.
“Hopefully we can draw a little bit of a crowd there (at TEAC Oval) to watch two teams that are usually pretty evenly matched.”
The match will be shown live on ABC 1 this Sunday in Victoria.
Box Hill Hawks: 5.10 / 11.13 / 15.15 / 20.16.136
Bendigo Bombers: 5.1 / 5.2 / 8.7 / 10.11.71
Goals: J. Hoegel 5, J. Lisle 4, S. Gibson 2, J. Kayler-Thomson 2, B. Fagan, L. Breust, R.Jackson, B. Muston, S. Savage, J. Morton, M. Suckling
Best: S. Gibson, J. Hoegel, J. Lisle, S. Savage, B. Fagan, J. Kayler-Thomson
