HAWKS MAKE AN IMPACT
Thursday, 22 October 2009

Box Hill Season Review - By Daniel Dufty

Flying into the 2009 VFL Season, Box Hill after recruiting heavily, gaining a new coach and a tougher side, has had its most successful season since 2004.

Leading into the start of 2009, the Hawks only looked for the best recruits, players with the ability to gain the hard ball, and those who would give all to gain glory. Working to perfection, the 2009 season produced some remarkable results as well as club history with the opening of a new facility the South Pavilion at Box Hill City Oval.

A welcome addition to the Box Hill base, Brendon Bolton has been a prodigy in his 1st year at the helm. Bolton came to the club with a diverse apprenticeship that included stints as a senior coach with Tasmania Devils in 2006 before the club disbanded, North Hobart in 2003 and Clarence in 2008.  

Bolton has serviced the Box Hill Hawks with style and flair developing a side which not only made the finals, but produced many Hawthorn debutants who had a real impact on the field.

The Box Hill Hawks finished in 5th position with a record of 12-6 after the home and away season, and after making the finals series their journey ended prematurely, beaten in the VFL First Semi-Final by Port Melbourne.

After heavy recruiting, Box Hill gained many AFL/VFL experienced players with Adem Yze (Melbourne FC), Sam Iles (Collingwood FC/Tasmania), Ed Curnow (Adelaide FC/Geelong Falcons), and Lachlan George (Tasmania/North Ballarat) joining the Hawks nest.

Box Hill’s biggest pick-up in years in the 271 game Melbourne Football Club superstar in Adem Yze proved a real hit in his first season for the club. Yze’s leadership and knowledge has been invaluable for the development of Box Hill players, and Hawthorn alike. Switching both forward and defensive roles, Yze won many matches off his own boot, while being a revelation bringing supporters through the gates.

Box Hill’s 12-6 record after the home and away season is highlighted by the Hawks resistance against opposition sides at home with a 10-1 record at Box Hill City Oval. Not only is Box Hill’s home record satisfying to look at, but the Hawks away record winning 3 of 5 (includes away final victory) matches shows the sides ability to hold down opposition away from home territory.

Making inroads, Box Hill only thought about finals as a distant feature of their season with games to be taken week by week, with their football future depending on their performance.

To its credit, Box Hill achieved so much more than other VFL teams would have suspected, and was a “dark horse” of the 2009 season. Box Hill beating last years VFL premier in North Ballarat was a highlight for a side that has struggled to match it with the premier sides of the competition in the past. In fact, Box Hill beat six of the top eight sides, while coming close challenging the power of Williamstown at Burbank Oval.

A key ingredient to Box Hill as a club is the development of players.

Box Hill continued to show their status as one of the best clubs in the competition with player development with the likes of Ryan Schoenmakers, Shane Savage and Riley Milne all getting a run with Hawthorn after strong performances at VFL level. Josh Kennedy after many top performances at VFL level with Box Hill got his chance again in the Hawthorn side showing promise as a future star midfielder in the AFL.

Jordan Lisle, Haydn Kiel and Luke Breust also added to the bright future of the talent bank for Hawthorn after showing great promise and gaining praise from Box Hill coach Brendon Bolton.

Outstanding leadership was shown during the Hawks season by Co-Captains Steve Kenna and Lukas Markovic who always gave the side great guidance and energy. Kenna celebrated his 50th game for the club, while Sam Gibson and Sam Iles also celebrated playing 50 games of VFL football throughout the 2009 season.

Box Hill had their fair share of success at the VFL’s prestigious J.J.Liston Trophy awards night. Sam Iles placed equal 3rd in the J.J.Liston Trophy, while Co-Captain Steve Kenna finished 6th making the top-ten for the second consecutive season. Iles, Kenna and Cameron Pedersen were all selected as part of the VFL Team of the Year with Iles and Pedersen making their debut in Victorian colours. Box Hill had the 2nd most players selected in the VFL Team of the Year showing the Hawks rapid rise in the eyes of selectors.     

Emerging from the Box Hill Hawks side of 2009 are talented individuals including Cameron Pedersen who was invited to an AFL State-Screening, a great achievement for Cameron looking to progress into AFL ranks. Pedersen a regular performer for the Hawks was sensational in all the positions he played, particularly in the centre and up-forward, kicking some important goals while his ruck-work and strong marking is a key to his powerful game-play. With the ability to ruck and having a calm head, he was the leading goal scorer for the Hawks with 35 in 2009, and a major player in the Hawks heroics in 2009.

Tim Walsh, Lachlan McQueen Miscamble, Ben Smithwick and Marco Bello have also been very valuable for the Hawks side along with all other players in a team that really put their stamp on the VFL competition this season.

Conditioning of players during the 2009 season was well received with few injuries, only the major occurring to Tim Boyle, Stuart Dew and Cameron Stokes.

In all, the Hawks recruiting over the break and the clubs ability to stay focused on the task week by week was overall the winning formula.

Ed Curnow, Co-Captain Lukas Markovic, Cameron Pedersen and Sam Gibson were the only players to play all 20 games for Box Hill in 2009 while the club used a total of 63 players during the VFL season, a club record.

Brendon Bolton has proved an instant success in his 1st year achieving a great deal with primarily a younger Box Hill side in terms of VFL experience. A great orator and mastermind of football knowledge, Bolton is not only a great mentor for his players, but one that also truly understands each of his players needs.

Calm and collected under pressure, Bolton is both an inspiriting converter of energy for his players, but also a well-established game-plan inventor. Learning and working with Alistair Clarkson, Damien Hardwick and Todd Viney has no doubt been rewarding for the new Box Hill coach.

With great belief in his players, Bolton has constructed a Hawks side and season which has not only been exciting to over see but watch players development in the hands of a great master.

Bolton and the Hawks will look to move another step closer to premiership glory in 2010.

Highlights of the Box Hill Season:

Box Hill broke many droughts including:

- For the 1st time since 2004 winning ten games or more in a home and away season

- 1st time in 4 years making a VFL Elimination Final

- 1st time in 5 years making a VFL Semi-Final

- 1st time in 5 years beating Coburg Tigers (Round 3 at Box Hill City Oval)

Historical Moments:

- Opening of the New South Pavilion (Round 15 against Port Melbourne)

Memorable Victories:

Round 7: Frankston (100 points)

Shannon Grant would have had second thoughts about his 1st year as a coach at VFL level after the Hawks won by a century of points. Box Hill had a day out in the park with Stuart Dew and Cameron Pedersen each kicking 4, while Ben Smithwick and Adem Yze added to the carnage with 3 goals a piece.

Round 13: North Ballart (14 pts)

Defeating the reigning premier is by no means an easy feat. Box Hill did it in style at Box Hill City Oval after North Ballart led by 16 points at three-quarter time. Two final quarter goals by Adem Yze brought the Hawks a miraculous victory as the Roosters crumbled.

Round 16: Coburg Tigers (5 pts)

Box Hill was lucky to steal victory from the jaws of defeat after Sam Iles kicked truly two seconds before the siren. Hyped up with the return of Matthew Richardson after injury, Coburg not only lost Richardson in the 1st quarter after 12 minutes but also the match when they looked likely winners.