WHEN you think of local football, many things come to mind. You think of locals having a beer on the hill, you think of a barbecue, you think of being right in the thick of the action knowing the players can hear every word. And you think of loyalty, desire, and commitment. And Round 14 had all of this, plus more, as I headed to Box Hill City Oval to see the Hawks host the Northern Blues.
Box Hill has a proud history in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne from a football perspective. In the early days, the first team known as Box Hill played in the Reporter District Football Association, but the Box Hill we know now can have its roots traced to the Box Hill City Football Club, which played in the Eastern Suburban Protestant Churches Football Association from 1923. The club the joined the Eastern Suburban Football League in 1932, and then amalgamated with Box Hill East to become the Box Hill Football Club in time for the 1937 season.
The formation of the new Box Hill Football Club coincided with the move to the then-new Box Hill City Oval, the ground that the club has used to this day. In late 1950, Box Hill were invited to join the then-VFA, and have been a part of the current league ever since. The club formerly known as the Mustangs broke their VFA Premiership drought, winning Division Two flags in 1984 and 1986, but it wasn’t until 2001 that the club could taste the ultimate Peter Jackson VFL glory, defeating Werribee in the decider! Box Hill was one of the first old VFA clubs to align with an AFL club, and from 2000 have been known as the Box Hill Hawks.
Box Hill City Oval is another classic suburban venue, like so many in the Peter Jackson VFL. Since inception in 1937, the ground has been upgraded at numerous intervals over the years, most significantly in the years since the alignment with Hawthorn. From one old pavilion and social club building, the facilities have now been complemented by new home team rooms and administration facilities, and a new South Pavilion. Furthermore, Federation Gates were provided to the club in 2001 on the corner of Middleborough Road and Whitehorse Road, and a new entrance facility was opened in 2007. Box Hill City Oval is a great viewing venue, with terraces on the western side of the arena, seating in front of the old pavilion, and plenty of luscious green grass for the rest.
On the Thursday preceding our journey to Box Hill, we were greeted with one of Melbourne’s warmest July days on record. When you think about that, you would think that, two days later, we would surely see a nice pleasant afternoon for some enjoyable football viewing. Sadly, it was not the case. It rained, it didn’t stop raining, and we recorded a top of 9.7 degrees, although it hovered around 6 degrees for the bulk of the afternoon. When you talk about loyalty, desire, and commitment, all of these features are ever-present in the hardy souls that ventured out to Box Hill City Oval for this match!
Taking a place on the wing, underneath my trusty golf umbrella, I was fortunate to have brought my thick gloves, heavy scarf, and good beanie. The only self-criticism I would declare is that I should have had a balaclava, to cover my face, but that wouldn’t have been a good look! What we saw was a classic game of wet weather football. Players needed to take their chances, be opportunistic, and not expect their skills to be the factor that would get them over the line on the day. After a closely-fought first quarter, the Blues had pushed away to a 5-goal lead at half time, and it was time to test out the food and beverage offerings.
A well-stocked kiosk was located next to a similarly well-stocked barbecue, and beers are also available in the old social club at one of the most competitive prices I have seen this year. On this day, we dined on hamburgers, which were simply to die for. A good sized beef patty on a fresh salad roll with cheese was the perfect fit, and could surprisingly rival the famous Burra Burger as a Peter Jackson VFL icon! This was an ideal feed on a cold, wet day.
The second half of the match ebbed and flowed, with the Northern Blues holding the Box Hill Hawks at arms-length for the remainder of the afternoon. The Blues ran out 16 point winners, and the final siren was greeted with a collective sigh of relief from players, officials, and spectators, in the knowledge that warmer surroundings were only minutes away! But, the final highlight of the day was surely when the Blues’ team song was preceded by the opening bars of “Oh we’re from Bendigo!”, and later followed by Port Melbourne’s “It’s a Grand Old Flag!”!
An odd finish to one of the most memorable days I have had this year!
By Kent Winzer
Twitter: @Kentessential
Photo: Jenny Owens
Last Modified on 24/07/2013 00:31