GUTSY HAWKS TURN CORNER
Monday, 23 June 2008

Box Hill Match Report
Round 11 at: Frankston Oval – Date: June 22nd – Report by: James Ranson

Box Hill made it two wins in a row, reeling in a huge quarter-time deficit for the second time in as many weeks, eventually defeating Frankston 10.9.69 to the Dolphin’s 9.8.62.

Thirty nine points was the deficit at quarter time, and with Frankston running amok it looked as if a drubbing was on the cards.

But the Hawks responded to some stinging words from coach Barry Mitchell at the first break, to come out a different side in the second quarter.

Mitchell was delighted with the comeback but not so impressed with the Hawk’s first quarter.

“It was another game where we played poorly for a quarter. It was probably no similar to other games this season to be honest. We managed to get ourselves into a position where most times you don’t win. It was a good performance but we’ve got to stop letting ourselves down with one quarter,” he said.

It was the Hawk’s first consecutive victory since Round 10, 2006 and surely the most satisfying, character-building win for some time. It was made all the more impressive given the rain started to tumble down right on quarter-time.

After laying just four tackles in the first term the Hawks tackled and harassed their way back into the game, finishing that count on top (54-33).

The willingness to pressure and apply the ‘one-percenters’ was outstanding from the young side, with Mitchell’s words seemingly ringing in the players’ ears at every contest.

In the second term, Box Hill completely reversed the trend, receiving no less than ten holding-the-ball decisions in situations where Frankston players were granted time and space in the first quarter.

The reversal was no more astounding than it was simple. When Box Hill pressured Frankston’s ball carriers their structure crumbled and the Hawks worked their way back into the contest.

“You always hope you fight back, it’s two weeks in a row where we’ve done that. I think early on the problem was a lot of bad mistakes and they capitalised, it wasn’t so much a reflection of our game, they were very good,” Mitchell said.

“But after quarter time we outplayed them…and they were lucky to kick a couple of goals against the run of play in the second term.”

Indeed, the Hawks were as dominant in the second quarter as Frankston was in the first, the only difference being the Hawks weren’t rewarded on the scoreboard as the Dolphins were.

Both sides played with a tight zone in the midfield, meaning quick movement and efficient disposal was imperative.

In the third quarter the Hawk’s continued to share the ball with one-twos, it was terrific to see a side growing in confidence.

Brendan Whitecross marked the dangerous Justin Berry while Batsanis had a hand in almost every one of Box Hill’s forward thrusts.

The game tightened up, but the Hawk’s insisted on using the centre corridors and they continued to etch closer despite wasting some gettable chances.

The backline of: Zac Dawson, David Marcius, Brad Neil, Lukas Markovic and Whitecross held up extremely well all game, with the Hawks conceding only two goals after quarter time and just four behinds after the main change.

Dawson, playing his 50th game stood up for the Hawks with a desperate performance. On a number of occasions he lunged his body at vital 50-50’s and kept his man (Aaron Murray) to just one goal - a goal gifted to him in the first term from a stray handball through no fault on his part.

Whitecross goaled to cut the margin to 14 points just shy of three-quarter-time, before Cameron Pedersen missed a set shot after the siren to make it 13 points.

Despite Box Hill’s endeavour and dominance the job still had to be done.

But the Hawks sniffed another win. Majors to Digby Morrell, Whitecross and Batsanis in the final term quickly reined in the 13-point margin and provided the Hawks with a memorable seven-point victory.

There were so many positive signs for the Hawks as the win was built solely on a cornerstone of hard work and determination.

Mitchell was wrapped with Mitch Thorp’s dominant performance that yielded 24 disposals and seven marks.

“That was definitely his best game for the year, he was fantastic and we hope to see more of that in the second half of the year.”

Thorp roamed up the ground a lot more and showed no ill-effects of his niggling knee injury.

Ben Smithwick also showed some promising signs on debut with his pressure early on.

Tim Walsh made his mark in the ruck on debut and took some fantastic pack marks. He possesses a very clean set of hands.

Morrell, with a quiet season to date, lifted the side in the second quarter with two great set-shot goals and finished with three.

“He kicked his three goals which he hasn’t been able to do so much this year. I think that’s something we’ve lacked is someone to kick goals for us and he was important for us yesterday,” Mitchell said.

Batsanis was in everything with his 34 touches earning best a field honours.

Ryan Breese helped out with (23), Gibson got better as the game wore on with (32) and seven marks, while Kenna (23) and five marks, and Marcius 20 and six marks were both very important.

The win sees the Hawks move out of last place for the first time this season, leapfrogging Collingwood into second last place. Coincidentally, the sides face off next week at Box Hill.

Box Hill Hawks: 1.1 / 5.2 / 7.6 / 10.9 (69)
Frankston: 7.4 / 9.4 / 9.7 / 9.8 (62)

Goals: Morrell 3, Batsanis 2, Whitecross 2, Dowler, Pedersen, Cross

Best: Batsanis, Thorp, Morrell, Whitecross, Walsh, Marcius