Review Round 2, 2025: Box Hill Hawks v North Melbourne, 29 March 2025, 2.05pm @ Box Hill City Oval

[Dixie Flatline]

The Hawks start their home campaign by hosting North Melbourne at Box Hill City Oval tomorrow. The Hawks withstood a challenge from Carlton to record their first win of the season in round 1, while North Melbourne split the points in a draw with Casey Demons at Casey Fields.

The Demons jumped out of the blocks fast against North Melbourne, but kicked inaccurately in the first quarter, converting eleven scoring shots into only two goals, and they held a seven point lead at quarter time (2.7.21 to 2.2.14). They couldn't find their kicking boots in the second quarter, with North Melbourne hitting the front heading into time-on in the second quarter, but the Demons kicked a steadying goal to reclaim a one point lead heading into the main break. North Melbourne started the second half with the first goal of the quarter, but the Demons kicked two goals to wrest back the lead. However, Casey conceded a goal in the lead-up to three quarter time and scores were level (6.13.49 to 7.7.49) heading into the last quarter. North Melbourne bounced out of the three-quarter time huddle with some purpose, kicking the first three goals of the final quarter, to take an 18 point lead early in the quarter. However, Casey pegged back North Melbourne and eked out a one point lead. North Melbourne kicked a point to tie the scores and then a goal to take a six lead into time-on, but Casey responded in kind to have a one point lead into the final minutes of the match. Geordie Payne had a chance for North Melbourne to win the game in the 30th minute of the final quarter, but kicked only a point to square the scores again and that's how it finished - the Demons kicking 10.16.76 to North Melbourne's 11.10.76.

Experienced AFL-listed Zac Fisher had 40 disposals for North Melbourne, and Adam Tomlinson had 24 disposals and 10 marks for North Melbourne. North Melbourne shared their goals around, with Finnbar Maley and Zane Duursma each kicking two goals, while Brynn Teakle, James Tarrant, River Stevens, Cooper Harvey, Connor Downie and Louis Butler each kicking a goal.

Box Hill survived a scare at Princes Park last Friday night. Carlton started strongly, but Box Hill three of the last four goals of the first quarter to take a five point lead into the first break. Box Hill kept the Blues goalless in the second quarter and kicked 2.2.14 themselves to take a 17 point lead into the long break. Carlton kicked the first two goals of the third quarter, but Box Hill steadied to extend their lead to 25 points by three quarter time. However, Carlton took control in the last quarter and Box Hill slowed to a walk, with Carlton kicking the last five goals of the game to close the margin to four points when the final siren sounded.

New recruit Trent Bianco led the way for Box Hill, with 31 disposals, while Hawthorn listed player Henry Hustwaite did his chances of receiving a call-up at some stage this season the world of good with 30 disposals (including 11 clearances). Veteran player Luke Breust showed he still knows where the goals are located, kicking three goals, while Max Ramsden and Jake Arundell kicked two each for Box Hill. Jasper Scaife, Corey Preston, Callum Porter and Matt Hill also kicked a goal each for Box Hill.

North Melbourne have omitted Connor Downie, Olli Hotton and Ewan Macpherson from the team that drew with Casey, while North Melbourne have called up Riley Hardeman to the AFL. Box Hill have included Sam Durdin and Sam Frost, while Luke Breust will play for Hawthorn and Daniel Wood has been omitted.

BOX HILL HAWKS
B: S. Frost (8), N. Mraz (21), S. Durdin (50)
HB: B. Ryan (26), S. Mitchell (40), J. Serong (29)
C: K. Declase (53), H. Hustwaite (44), B. Macdonald (42)
HF: W. McCabe (27), J. Arundell (70), E. Stanley (65)
F: M. Ramsden (38), J. Scaife (39), C. Anderson (32)
R: N. Reeves (7), C. Porter (55), T. Bianco (58)
INT: C. Preston (73), S. Horner (62), M. Hill (41), L. Ward (54), A. Stefanakis (59)
23rd Player: L. Ward (54)
EMG: B. Simondson (74), J. Uhr-Henry (43), S. Amoroso (71), J. Sammartino (67), M. Donohue (61), J. Peacock (77), D. Wood (68)

IN: S. Durdin, S. Frost, B. Ryan
OUT: L. Breust (AFL), J. Sammartino, D. Wood (omitted)
NEW: Sam Durdin, 28, 198cm, Carlton AFL

NORTH MELBOURNE
B: M. Whitlock (35), K. Dawson (42), A. Tomlinson (80)
HB: B. Hopkins (53), Z. Fisher (16), L. Butler (49)
C: M. Bergman (27), M. Keast (64), T. Cappellari (61)
HF: E. Ford (40), Z. Duursma (7), R. Stevens (36)
F: F. Maley (39), C. Harvey (37), B. Teakle (43)
R: T. Goad (22), B. Stevens (51), D. Macpherson (50)
INT: W. Dawson (18), L. Urquhart (14), O. Lowe (70), G. Payne (23), J. Tarrant (79)
23rd Player: B. Hopkins (53)
EMG: C. Downie (47), E. Macpherson (68), O. van Dam (74)

IN: M. Bergman, T. Cappellari, B. Stevens, L. Urquhart
OUT: R. Hardeman (AFL), C. Downie, O. Hotton, E. Macpherson (omitted)
NEW: Luke Urquhart, 18, 183cm, Melville/East Fremantle

 

[stemline]

VFL site should also have S.Frost as 'NEW'. First outing for the Stangers.

 

[Bardo State]

Box Hill concede their first. It had been coming through a lot of North pressure.

Unfortunately some sloppiness to start from Ryan and Mraz.

BMac looks very positive.

 

[VandoHawk]

Comedy of errors with our disposal. It's a Benny Hill skit.

 

[VandoHawk]

Declase had two players free in the goal square there, took the shot from 40 and misses. Very frustrating, we've made a meal of three or four chances.

 

[Rudi Gilham]

Has Box Hill had a free kick yet?

 

[VandoHawk]

Another two good opportunities wasted ugh

 

[VandoHawk]

Theme of the game: we waste three of four good chances. North rebound quickly, take a mark in the 50 and goal. They lead by 23.

 

[Bardo State]

I think Scaife was having a ping there, which is pretty irresponsible after being told to play on. He finally got a mark after being given a bit of a bath by Whitlock and Dawson and sent the ball straight back.

 

[VandoHawk]

Stanley kicks a bullet 50 metre pass into the wind and Scaife takes a good mark. Finally kicks our first.

 

[VandoHawk]

Q1. NM 4.3. 27 to BH 1.4. 10.

North Melbourne had a wind advantage, but we were horrible with our skills and decision making. Both the Hawks players and Box Hill boys are having issues like missing the boot.

Frosty taking a heap of intercept marks.
Serong good in link play.
Mraz was pretty good aside from one bad mistake.

 

[Bardo State]

So many handballs to ground and kicks out of bounds in that quarter.

Serong's class shone through at times and Hustwaite had a couple of impressive clearances. It was hard for the team to get any momentum because you were always a touch or two away from a turnover.

 

[VandoHawk]

Great centre clearance from Hustwaite, we muck around a bit but Declase kicks a quality snap

 

[VandoHawk]

Reeves takes a strong defensive mark but is deemed a push. North convert.

 

[VandoHawk]

A dubious HTB is paid in favour of North. However, they are classy enough to connect with the kick into 50 and finish.

We continue to make silly skill errors and lack composure kicking into the 50.

 

[Bardo State]

Feels like these umpires are taking the AFL umpiring flavours of the month and going really overboard with them.

I swear there have been multiple 20m+ kicks called not 15.

 

[cs61]

Mitchell talked about how vital body language is during the 'Full Sweat' documentary, in terms not showing opposition you look tired and have half the side hunched over hands on knees. He wouldn't be too impressed if he's watching today if that is the case.

 

[ahhhhhh]

We are getting absolutely torched here.

 

[VandoHawk]

That was a cracking mark by Maley from North. Poor Mraz got cleaned up in the process.

 

[Kuuz]

Lads look well off the pace - we’re making a lot of skill errors

 

[VandoHawk]

A great bit of contested work from Hustwaite manages to break the game open and we handball our way to McCabe for a goal

 

[Bardo State]

McCabe out the back!

The wonders that a couple of clean pickups and handballs can do

 

[cs61]

Hustwaite great in that passage, taking it contested and then getting speed on the ball moving it forward. McCabe* a nice finish.

McCabe* seems someone that would appreciate the faster pace of AFL, bigger grounds, and other support around him, and has less chance to show his traits at Box Hill in scrappy type games.

 

[Bardo State]

I don't know if North are running a spare but a lot of our entries down the line are clearly outnumbered

 

[ahhhhhh]

Jai Serong needs to be playing AFL. If it's not with us we should let him move on.