Frankston has recalled two of its biggest stars for its final game of the Smithy’s VFL season against Box Hill Hawks on Friday night.
The Dolphins regain defender Joe Lloyd and key forward Matt Johnson – a late withdrawal for their win over Coburg last week, boosting their chances of signing off from 2023 with a monumental upset and two wins a row.
Frankston hasn’t beaten the Hawks since 2007 – the same year it last knocked off Coburg at Piranha Park, losing 16 games in a row following a draw late that year, and Box Hill hasn’t been beaten at Kinetic Stadium since the season before.
The Hawks will be looking to bounce back quickly after last week’s loss to Footscray left their spot in the top four on the line should they not be able to salute on Friday night.
They will go in without a quartet of key players, with Ned Long, Max Ramsden, Tyler Brockman and Jai Serong all being left out of the team with Hawthorn not set to play in the AFL until Sunday.
Seamus Mitchell returns from injury and Bailey Macdonald has been dropped from the AFL, with Lachie Wynd and Kye Agosta also earning recalls.
Selected teams for all remaining Round 22 matches will be published at 5pm on Friday.
All matches in the 2023 Smithy’s VFL season are live streamed free via the AFL website and AFL Live Official App.
Smithy’s VFL broadcast partner, the Seven Network, will show one weekly game live and free on the Seven Network in Victoria and on 7Plus nationally. This week’s game will be Richmond vs North Melbourne.
FRANKSTON vs BOX HILL HAWKS
Friday 18 August, 7:05pm, Kinetic Stadium
Head-to-head: Box Hill Hawks 39-36-1. At Kinetic Stadium: Frankston 22-17-1. Streak: Box Hill Hawks 16
FRANKSTON
B: L. Riley (21), J. Smith (25), J. Voss (13)
HB: B. O'Leary (10), M. Williams (4), J. Lloyd (18)
C: M. Szybkowski (2), W. Fordham (7), S. Quirk (11)
HF: K. Owens (5), T. Mynott (12), P. Roseby (23)
F: C. Nayna (9), M. Johnson (24), T. Barlow (3)
R: J. Rendell (16), C. Riley (22), J. Newnes (14)
INT: N. Minchin (45), J. Stern (42), D. Gilbert (37), J. Davies (46), R. Jacobs (31)
EMG: T. Marotta (47), L. Reidy (33), B. Hempel (34)
IN: M. Johnson, J. Lloyd
OUT: W. Brown, C. Trembath
BOX HILL HAWKS
B: D. Mascitti (50), S. Mitchell (40), J. Morris (35)
HB: B. Macdonald (42), E. Jeka (39), C. Brown (66)
C: M. Hall (61), C. Mackenzie (28), C. Porter (55)
HF: J. Bennetts (41), C. Stephens (21), S. Butler (30)
F: J. Thorpe (57), F. Greene (26), L. Wynd (63)
R: L. Meek (17), E. Phillips (60), L. Bramble (16)
INT: L. Coghlan (74), C. Tucker (45), K. Agosta (78), H. Hustwaite (44), L. Bryce (71)*
EMG: T. Waack (64), J. Trudgeon (54), C. Bramble (82), J. Arundell (70)
IN: K. Agosta, B. Macdonald, S. Mitchell, L. Wynd
OUT: T. Brockman, N. Long, M. Ramsden, J. Serong (AFL squad)
UMPIRES
Frankston vs Box Hill Hawks
FIELD: 14.Luke Porter, 28.Josh Ball, 31.Matt Pongracic. BOUNDARY: Wade Anderson, Harry HBell, Mitch Dorling. GOAL: Chris Doyle, Jake Marnie.
