ROUND 18 - VFL PREVIEW
Thursday, 13 August 2009

Box Hill Hawks vs. Bendigo Bombers
Sunday 16th August
Box Hill City Oval at 2.00pm 

By Daniel Dufty

THE BOX HILL HAWKS return home this week to play cellar-dwellers Bendigo Bombers in a must win game to consolidate a top four position.

After an early scare with Frankston pressing for their third victory, Box Hill powered on in the final term kicking 4 goals to one to post their 10th victory.

Returning to the top four, Box Hill’s form has been impressive since Round 9 having won six out of the last nine matches.

Moving back home, Box Hill City Oval has been a happy hunting ground against opposition sides so far having won six out of seven games. 

BENDIGO BOMBERS, MEANWHILE still are looking to pen down their 1st victory after falling short to a rampaging Coburg Tigers side.

Jacob Hislop kicked five last quarter goals placing the match out of reach for Bendigo keeping Coburg’s finals hopes alive.

Leading at the half-time break, Bendigo looked likely to upset the Tigers but Coburg pulled the trigger in the 2nd half racing to a 43-point win.

With Casey Scorpions and Northern Bullants losing last weekend, Box Hill pressed forward into the top four and with a win this weekend will hold their position for another week.

As Box Hill rests with their 2nd bye in Round 19, a win this weekend would hold the Hawks in comfort knowing they are in safety in the four for the time being.

Last time these two sides played in Round 9 2009, Box Hill won by 47 points.

Head to Head:

Played 16: Box Hill 11, Bendigo 5

Last Time:

Bendigo Bombers: 0.2 / 1.3 / 2.5 / 6.8.44   
Box Hill Hawks: 2.2 / 6.4 / 11.11 / 13.13.91    

Goals: B. Smithwick 3, S. Gibson 2, S. Iles, B. Fagan, L. Breust, J. Kennedy, A. Yze, J. Dyson, J. Morton, C. Pedersen

Best: S. Iles, E. Curnow, R. Ladson, B. Smithwick, S. Gibson, B. Neil

Box Hill Development Team:

Box Hill continued their smooth sailing into the latter part of the season with an 83-point victory against Frankston.

Ben Fagan placed through 7 goals while midfielders Lachlan George and Joel Cross were instrumental in the win.

This week, Box Hill meet Bendigo who they last beat by 102 points in Round 9.

Gary Conyers kicked 6 goals while Jack Bull was the best for the Hawks in cold conditions at Windy Hill.

Box Hill midfielder Joel Cross sees this weekend’s game as a chance to consolidate top spot on the ladder while the Hawks are in a strong position leading into the finals. 

“We are just looking to take the game on this week and back ball movement and skills.

That is the main reason we have been so successful over the last nine weeks.

We all have a lot of faith in each others ability and that makes us a strong team both on and off the field.

Moving forward, we feel we have a strong game plan to take us deep into the finals. We have very high standards as a team and we pride ourselves on winning every game, in all conditions.
 
Hopefully this week we can consolidate top spot on the ladder and gain some momentum heading into finals”.

Box Hill will be looking to post their 10th consecutive win, ironically which began with the Hawks victory against Bendigo Bombers in Round 9.