Review 2025 Second Qualifying Final: Box Hill Hawks v Southport Sharks, 30 August 2025, 12.35pm @ BHCO

[Liverbird]

Horror show folks. Onto next week.

 

[VandoHawk]

Ramsden kicks his fourth.

We've had some momentum in the last five minutes but it's really just Southport taking the foot off.

 

[VandoHawk]

A quick clearance and a nice goal to McCabe

 

[CaptainWorpedo]

Can we please extend Ramsden this guy needs AFL games as a forward in 2026.

 

[VandoHawk]

Declase kicks a goal on the siren to bring the margin back to 21. Siren goes.

 

[onthemoney]

Yikes, only caught the last quarter, that was grim.

Gee they’ve looked flat the last few games. Too many blokes feeling pissed off that they’re not playing AFL?

 

[Dinsdale]

Had to go out at 1/4 time, stupid sharks.

How did Weddle go?

 

[VandoHawk]

Full Time. Box Hill 13.16. 94 defeated by Southport 18.7. 115.

What a shitshow. Box Hill had ascendancy for three quarters but missed many gettable opportunities. Even though we looked better, Southport were attacking the contest noticeably harder and making the most of their opportunities. They had the breeze in the last and put us to the sword on effort alone. We kicked some late goals when the pressure dropped off. This is now the second season that Box Hill has looked listless in finals.

Butler was a workhorse. One of the few players with intensity, he put his body on the line constantly and used his tank to provide an outlet option. Can struggle to get separation.

Hustwaite didn’t lack intensity and was strong around the ball. However, his ball use was atrocious.

Ramsden had a purple patch in the second where he threatened to win the game singlehandedly. From then on, he was almost always 2v1. Still looked our most dangerous option and kicked four goals.

Mackenzie was tagged. Won an OK amount of ball but didn’t use it well when he had it, and it didn’t feel like he was attacking it.

Serong was our best defender. Took a heap of intercepts and tried to generate attacking plays, but his ball use was more inconsistent than usual.

Seamus was OK. His defensive application was good against dangerous small forwards, but some of his errors were very bad.

Reeves broke even with Crossley. I would argue he was the better ruck, but the bulk of Crossley prevented his marking influence around the ground.

Weddle played the second half and looked rusty. Wasn’t judging the ball well and dropping marks. He does look a class above when he runs though.

Frost looked checked out. Started forward, moved back, fumbled throughout.

Blanck was well beaten.

Anderson’s defensive application in the first quarter was fantastic, but he copped a corky early on that he couldn’t push through. Played about 5 minutes into the third before sitting on the pine.

Ryan and Scaife both played poor games.

Hill had some eye-catching moments.

BMac is fast and had some good runs through the middle but he never looked when he kicked.

McCabe didn’t have an impact and was moved across multiple positions. We need to settle him because he looks uncertain.

 

[VandoHawk]

Had to go out at 1/4 time, stupid sharks.

How did Weddle go?

Weddle was OK.

He misjudged the ball and dropped three of four marks in the conditions. Still looked untouchable when he went on runs.

 

[Bardo State]

4 quick goals at the death to save face.

Ends up 14.16 to 18.7

Happy to see Weddle get through a full half. Seemed like everyone had slippery fingers including Weds, but I'd expect him to slot straight back in.

Butler was outstanding. He scrapped for everything, had a few big smothers. Was seriously hurt just before the half but kept ticking over. Definitely more complete than the rest of the Box Hill mids with his ability to pressure and contribute both ways in transition.

Ramma is just really good at this level. Can collect it on the deck, clunk them and pinch hit. He'll have an AFL list spot for a long time.

Hustwaite quite good. Mainly in tight, he can be caught in transition. Did have a lovely step through goal.

Zac Foot sat on Cam Mackenzie all day. I still wish Frenchie forced his way in a bit more. He almost seemed happy to play decoy at times? Letting other mids attack the ball. Surely that can't be how a player of his calibre responds to that attention. I think I saw him get a bit more scrappy and desperate in the last, which was good.

The smalls down back, Macdonald, Mitchell and Ryan all had good and bad moments. None of them quite put together the day you'd hope and were good in patches.

I hope McCabe isn't getting lost out there. He had a fantastic VFL debut as an intercept defender but spent most of the day out on a wing, not really influencing. He's thrown between there and third forward and it's rough.

Hill glimpses again. I was hoping by this point in the season he'd have a bit more consistent impact through a game. If he can stay involved, he's an AFL player.

 

[H00t]

Yikes, only caught the last quarter, that was grim.

Gee they’ve looked flat the last few games. Too many blokes feeling pissed off that they’re not playing AFL?

Not sure anyone apart from Ramma could feel hard done by. He was at least performing at AFL level when given the chance. He also had a good game.

Butler did his chances no harm but the rest should be jumping at the chance to perform and put their name up for selection.

The current players they are trying to replace would have played much better games against this level of opposition.

 

[Walshawk]

Weddle looked fit, but out of touch.
Our ball use was terrible. No one else put their hand up.

 

[hawkheart]

It’s all about timing your run into finals and it seems like Box Hill have botched it, now on a three-game losing streak. Hopefully the seniors have timed their run better.

 

[Dazza the Viking]

Yikes, only caught the last quarter, that was grim.

Gee they’ve looked flat the last few games. Too many blokes feeling pissed off that they’re not playing AFL?

Or pissed, Sammy’s favourites are getting a game ahead of them

Feel that the drop off for BH, is a few players have had there papers stamped or some players don’t see any light in getting back in the seniors this season

 

[Dazza67]

Weddle won't get promoted to Hawthorn based on that. Needs more time at Box Hill.
So based on Morrison going into Hawthorn's team and Lewis getting dropped -

Mraz can't come in unless he is fit enough to play full game. You cannot carry a player who is only playing 50% match time in a final against quality opposition it stuffs up the rotations (also Declase was coming back from injury and Anderson copped the injury)

In Mraz(maybe), Hicks, Durdin, Lewis, Porter, Simondson
Out B. McDonald, McCabe, Scaife, Frost, Hill, Cavarra

B Ryan Mraz Blanck
HB Mitchell Serong Horner
C Declase Bianco Stanley
HF Weddle Ramsden Butler
F Hicks Lewis Arundell
R Reeves Hustwaite Anderson
Int Ward McKenzie Porter Simondson Durdin

 

[ahhhhhh]

Weddle won't get promoted to Hawthorn based on that. Needs more time at Box Hill.
So based on Morrison going into Hawthorn's team and Lewis getting dropped -

Mraz can't come in unless he is fit enough to play full game. You cannot carry a player who is only playing 50% match time in a final against quality opposition it stuffs up the rotations (also Declase was coming back from injury and Anderson copped the injury)

In Mraz(maybe), Hicks, Durdin, Lewis, Porter, Simondson
Out B. McDonald, McCabe, Scaife, Frost, Hill, Cavarra

B Ryan Mraz Blanck
HB Mitchell Serong Horner
C Declase Bianco Stanley
HF Weddle Ramsden Butler
F Hicks Lewis Arundell
R Reeves Hustwaite Anderson
Int Ward McKenzie Porter Simondson Durdin

Haha Weddle ain't staying at Box Hill. Straight back into the team.

 

[Lickmesocks]

First half was a fantastic contest in tough conditions between two even teams.

First qtr with a 4 goal wind we missed so many shots and that really hurt us.

Super impressed with the sharks. So much talk on the field and they work for each other, block for each other, and continually run for each other. The ruck that looks like a Hells Angels is inspiring and someone you would love to play with as he just smashes in whenever it is needed for the team.

Hawks listed players show glimpses/ flashes but not sure it means enough. Sharks players are right up for it and at a different level.

 

[Bumpswithagrin]

View attachment 2412118

Is that from today? If so, then I'm out of excuses

Camera work is not that flash most weeks tbh, but it did seem worse today.

I also noticed that ground noise was very low, you could barely hear the siren for example. Mind you the sound of the wind came through OK.

I suppose it boils down to this; the AFL allocates a very small budget for the coverage and this is the best they can do.

 

[Dazza the Viking]

Not sure anyone apart from Ramma could feel hard done by. He was at least performing at AFL level when given the chance. He also had a good game.

Butler did his chances no harm but the rest should be jumping at the chance to perform and put their name up for selection.

The current players they are trying to replace would have played much better games against this level of opposition.

Butler went out of the seniors with injury, and can’t get back in, because they prefer Breust (a great at the Hawks) but cooked, bar maybe one quarter

BMac just doesn’t look the same player after playing 5 games 5 subs and getting dropped

Like someone said earlier, a mystery of MacKenzie complete drop off, since getting injured early in the year, was playing well in the seniors up to then

Ramsden, personally thought he was stiff getting dropped but he ain’t getting back in this season, despite Lewis looking well off the pace in the seniors

Husthwaite, Serong look like there papers have stamped

Seamus a bit similar to BMac, being the sub seems of killed there form to get back in the seniors

 

[westhawk]

Haha Weddle ain't staying at Box Hill. Straight back into the team.

Exactly, he wasn’t playing at Box Hill to prove himself, just blowing the cobwebs off and seeing how the back cops the hits.

 

[barbster]

Butler any chance for a call up? He has impressed me this year considering where he has come from. Would have liked to have seen him given a few more senior games during the season proper.

 

[JZedd]

We are consistently terrible in finals under Littlejohn.

We need the bigger version of John

 

[Bardo State]

Weddle won't get promoted to Hawthorn based on that. Needs more time at Box Hill.
So based on Morrison going into Hawthorn's team and Lewis getting dropped -

Mraz can't come in unless he is fit enough to play full game. You cannot carry a player who is only playing 50% match time in a final against quality opposition it stuffs up the rotations (also Declase was coming back from injury and Anderson copped the injury)

In Mraz(maybe), Hicks, Durdin, Lewis, Porter, Simondson
Out B. McDonald, McCabe, Scaife, Frost, Hill, Cavarra

B Ryan Mraz Blanck
HB Mitchell Serong Horner
C Declase Bianco Stanley
HF Weddle Ramsden Butler
F Hicks Lewis Arundell
R Reeves Hustwaite Anderson
Int Ward McKenzie Porter Simondson Durdin

This just isn't how it works. Hawthorn players are not getting dropped.

As far as selection goes, Box Hill exists to give Hawthorn players match time first. To win games second.

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

Weddle won't get promoted to Hawthorn based on that. Needs more time at Box Hill.

Honestly, don’t know how you can come to that conclusion, when we all know, he was only there to get some run in his legs.

 

[BIGHAWK23]

Weddle won't get promoted to Hawthorn based on that. Needs more time at Box Hill.
So based on Morrison going into Hawthorn's team and Lewis getting dropped -

Mraz can't come in unless he is fit enough to play full game. You cannot carry a player who is only playing 50% match time in a final against quality opposition it stuffs up the rotations (also Declase was coming back from injury and Anderson copped the injury)

In Mraz(maybe), Hicks, Durdin, Lewis, Porter, Simondson
Out B. McDonald, McCabe, Scaife, Frost, Hill, Cavarra

B Ryan Mraz Blanck
HB Mitchell Serong Horner
C Declase Bianco Stanley
HF Weddle Ramsden Butler
F Hicks Lewis Arundell
R Reeves Hustwaite Anderson
Int Ward McKenzie Porter Simondson Durdin

Weddle will be straight in

Don’t kid yourself

And Lewis won’t be dropped