Box Hill, in control from start to finish set up the win with a five goal opening term to help the Hawks post their fourth win for the season.
After a dry spell waiting for a win after three close losses, the Box Hill Hawks lifted a gear and turned back the clock to a familiar brand of football.
Box Hill Coach Brendon Bolton was pleased with the win having been in the Hawks hands all day.
“It’s a bit of relief. We’ve been in every game, but just a patch of football here and there has really hurt us and maybe a bit of leadership from a Box Hill perspective that hasn’t been on the ground.
“The game today was played well and truly on our terms so you get a confidence out of that.” Bolton said.
Returning from a club-imposed suspension, Bendigo Bombers Coach Shannon Grant couldn’t find a proper match-up for the variety of talent up forward presented by Box Hill.
After the whiteboard received a work-over at quarter time, nothing changed with the Box Hill Hawks making life difficult for Grant all day. Bendigo just couldn’t get their system together up forward, with the side succumbing to the added pressure provided by Box Hill.
Walking tall, Cameron Pedersen provided the brick wall all game Box Hill needed in defence, along with the rest of the side in a shared team effort.
“He had a super game today (Pedersen). He’s played a few games down back like that for us now and they have just been first class.” Bolton said.
“I would have thought he had a dozen spoils, really good aggressive spoils in marking contests, so that was a real positive for him.
“I also thought Kayler-Thompson’s work rate around the ground to win plenty of the ball and Jordan Lisle’s effort in the ruck, being able to chop out in defence and mark that ball were positive signs for us as well,” Bolton said.
Box Hill had a fight on their hands in the third term after the Bombers blasted through two goals in the opening two minutes.
Revitalised from the break, Bendigo rushing forward were able to cut Box Hill’s lead to 27 points. Although, it was the Bombers final flourish with Box Hill controlling the play right until the final siren.
Box Hill was always going to be tested at some stage by the Bombers, and it came unsurprisingly at a crucial stage of the match.
“They challenged us early in the third, being a quality team. But to our credit, we bounced back late in the third.
“We are learning from our close games and starting to apply some of that, but we have to continue to do that in our next game against Collingwood, small steps forward.
“You can see the competition is really close and that’s the nature of VFL footy. So we just have to keep applying that mindset and if we can do that over four quarters we’re a chance.” Bolton said.
Holding for the four quarters, Box Hill never once pulled their foot off the pedal.
Distinctly, it is the opposite picture to the one seen in the encounters against both Port Melbourne and Williamstown. Mark Williams also did not line-up for Bendigo in a selection shock, after the former Hawthorn forward was expected to make his return against his former side.
Hawthorn-listed Beau Dowler was named as captain for Box Hill side with Steve Kenna on the sidelines.
On the ground as the general in defence, Cameron Pedersen starred for the Hawks with 23 disposals.
Jarrod Kayler-Thompson (34) along with Jordan Lisle (22) and 17 hitouts were critical in the Hawks midfield moving the ball forward against a hard nosed opposition.
Shane Savage (21), Travis Tuck (19) and Jarryd Morton (20) rounded out the best of the Hawks.
Jarryd Morton playing a defensive role teamed up well with both Pedersen, Haydn Kiel and Riley Milne to restrict the Bendigo attack to only eight goals.
Luke Breust again hit the scorebooks with three goals in another positive performance for the Hawthorn rookie, who continues week by week to perform with distinction for the Box Hill side.
Having lost their last two matches without the guidance of Shannon Grant, Bendigo have extended their run to three matches with Grant back.
Box Hill’s victory pushes the team back into the top eight, after a three week lay off sitting in no-mans land.
Next week, the Box Hill Hawks rest with a break in the first week of the VFL Split Round.
Box Hill will play in the second week against Collingwood on Sunday 27 June at Box Hill City Oval.
Box Hill Captain, Steve Kenna and new recruit Ryan Jackson are expected to return for the clash.
Box Hill’s win will be a good confidence booster for the clash against the Pies.
Box Hill Hawks: 5.4 / 8.6 / 12.7 / 14.10.94
Bendigo Bombers: 1.0 / 3.1 / 6.4 / 8.5.53
Goals: L. Breust 3, B. Dowler 2, S. Gibson, B. Fagan, L. Andrews, S. Savage, G. Moss, E. Curnow, J. Lisle, J. Morton, C. Stokes
Best: C. Pedersen, J. Lisle, J. Kayler-Thomson, S. Savage, T. Tuck, J. Morton
