Saturday 16 August, 2pm
Batercard Oval
A second half fadeout from the Box Hill Hawks has seen them end an impressive run of form with a 60-point loss away to Werribee.
James Podsiadly helped himself to six goals for the home side as they ran out 18.9.117 to 7.15.57 victors at Bartercard Oval.
The Hawks went into the clash on the back of a three-game winning streak, their longest for some time, but couldn’t hold off Werribee when they surged in the third term.
Box Hill welcomed back Hawk forward Tim Boyle and midfielder Brendan Whitecross for the clash and trailed by only five points at the main change.
After halftime Werribee lifted its tackling pressure noticeably (53-36 for the game) and dominated in the middle with the aid of Roos ruckman Hamish McIntosh, who returned from injury.
The Tigers provided first use for their forwards kicking 10 goals while limiting the Hawks to just one goal in a disappointing second half.
It was a most surprising capitulation after a very fruitful couple of months for Box Hill, but the loss means little in the context of its season.
Although output was down a little from a number of players the likes of Tim Clarke (23 disposals), Josh Kennedy (26) and Travis Tuck (25) put their hand up and found plenty of the ball.
Clinton Young was serviceable with (19) and also took eight marks and laid four tackles.
Whitecross and Ryan Breese were good through the middle while Digby Morrell worked tirelessly up forward all day.
Next week the Hawks come up against top-of-the-ladder side Williamstown in their last home game of the season before a final away trip to Tasmania.
Box Hill Hawks: 3.4 / 6.9 / 6.10 / 7.15 (57)
Werribee Tigers: 5.2 / 8.2 / 14.9 / 18.9 (117)
Goals: Neville 2, Dawson 2, Boyle, Morton, Grima
Best: Whitecross, Kennedy, Morrell, Pedersen, Breese, Tuck
Hawks In Reserve
Clinton Young – 19 touches, 8 marks, 4 tackles: Ran hard and found space for himself, could be back in contention at Hawthorn after two solid outings.
Tim Clarke – 23 touches, 4 marks.
Mitch Thorp – 11 disposals, 4 marks.
Jarryd Morton – 13 touches, 6 marks, 1 goal: His move forward has been quite successful, can hold his own out of the goal square.
Alex Grima – 4 possessions, 1 goal.
Matt Suckling – 12 touches, 3 tackles.
Brent Renouf – 12 touches, 6 marks: Was up against a premier AFL ruckman in McIntosh and held his own.
Beau Dowler – 18 disposals, 3 marks, 3 tackles
Travis Tuck – 25 disposals, 4 tackles. Looked good and will add to Hawthorn’s depth in the midfield if he is needed in the lead up to the finals.
Josh Kennedy – 26 possessions, 4 marks: Arguably the Hawks’ best player. Played his best game in a month or so.
Zac Dawson – 10 touches, 4 marks, 2 goals: Couldn’t replicate his stunning eight-goal haul last week ending with two majors.
Brendan Whitecross – 14 possessions, 7 marks.
Timothy Walsh – 7 disposals, 3 marks.
Tim Boyle – 14 touches, 2 marks, 2 tackles: Didn’t get a lot of supply in the second half but wasn’t bad up forward.
