Flying to their fifth win, the Box Hill Hawks rose to the occasion against the Gold Coast to complete a comprehensive 56 point win away at Southport.
After the Gold Coast came out with intent in the opening term, the story changed for the rest of the match with Box Hill slamming on 16 goals to six, in the 19.16.(130) to 11.8.(74) victory.
Box Hill broke down the Gold Coast defensively then placed on cruise control and never looked back.
Clicking into gear, Box Hill Coach Brendon Bolton was pleased with the Hawks after the Gold Coast applied the breaks early.
“I thought we started to dominate after the first quarter.
“We won a fair bit of contested footy which was pleasing and used the ball a lot better going inside fifty which really does help.
“Obviously you get reward for effort, so that was a pleasing thing.
“I thought we had a balanced contribution between our whole list and all those little things add up and help.” Bolton said.
The Gold Coast was always behind the eight ball from the beginning with the experience the Hawks had on field.
But to their credit they came out energised looking to displace their more fancied opponent with a team show piecing an array of talent ready to burst onto the field into action.
Filtering through the first four goals, the Gold Coast had the Hawks in a spot of bother.
Gold Coast ruckman Zac Smith had the game in his fingertips moving the ball to the Coasters midfield effectively, with the Hawks struggling to gain an early clearance.
Weary of the Gold Coast, Box Hill lifted a gear kicking the next three, before the Coasters sailed through a goal on the siren.
Only 14 points split the two teams at quarter time and it looked anyone’s game.
But the Hawks came out the stronger team after the break and finished with a fury blowing the final margin out to 56 points.
It was at the fall of the stoppages that the Gold Coast had the better of the Hawks in the opening term.
“I thought our structures around stoppages, we never probably had the balance right. Bolton said.
“As a result they were winning the stoppage battle and when they got goal side of us, they were a really quick side. I think they’ve got a really bright future as they play some fast footy. We probably didn’t really work hard enough in transition.
“I felt late in the quarter we just started to get on top of them a little bit more physically around stoppages.
“As soon as we got on top in stoppages, we would win the game.”
Known as a good finishing side, the Gold Coast didn’t hit their straps with their inexperience showing towards the end.
It really took the Hawks about 15 minutes to get into the game and after the light turned on, it was full speed ahead.
It was a match displaying two sides of a coin; one a show of young talent and the other a seasoned opponent.
While the Gold Coast had a few members of AFL experience in Daniel Harris, Danny Stanley and Sam Iles, it was not enough. Iles also played against the Hawks for the first time after playing at the club last season.
When Box Hill continued to run; the Gold Coast ran out of legs and didn’t gel as well with fluidity.
For the Hawks, Jarrod Kayler-Thomson set up the play through the centre while kicking goals up forward in a duel performance finishing with 32 disposals and four goals.
Sam Gibson (34) and Ed Curnow (32) worked tirelessly with Kayler-Thompson in the middle and were a big part of the Hawks heroics.
Defensively the match couldn’t have been won without the help of Liam Shiels (31), Haydn Kiel (21) and Jarryd Morton (13) who set up the barrier needed to repel the Gold Coast’s quick attacking players.
Beau Dowler was also impressive with four goals to break out of his past lean patch of form.
Dowler kept presenting as a target up forward and kept busy as an option for the Hawks with his two opening term goals so important in keeping the team in the match.
Beau Dowler’s performance was a great boost in his own game.
“It was good for Beau’s confidence that he’s kicked a few goals and that’s a good little step forward for him.” Bolton said.
Matt Sucking and Will Sierakowski were also strong contributors in an even Box Hill team performance.
Playing on Karmichael Hunt who had a quiet day, as his direct opponent Ben Fagan also chipped in with two handy goals.
The Hawks have crept back into the top eight with the win to sit in eighth position at 5-6 after the position was opened after Williamstown defeated Sandringham by 62 points.
Next week the Box Hill Hawks will move back to Box Hill City Oval to take on the Northern Bullants on Sunday 11 July.
Box Hill will be hoping it is a repeat performance, after they beat the Bullants earlier in Round 5 by 22 points.
Gold Coast: 5.4 / 6.4 / 8.8 / 11.8.74
Box Hill Hawks: 3.2 / 8.7 / 16.11 / 19.16.130
Goals: B. Dowler 4, J. Kayler-Thomson 4, B. Fagan 2, J. Lisle 2, S. Gibson, R. Milne, G. Moss, E. Curnow, J. Morton, C. Pedersen, M. Suckling
Best: J. Kayler-Thomson, S. Gibson, E. Curnow, J. Morton, H. Kiel, M. Suckling
