A preliminary final berth is on the line in this week's Box Hill Hawks vs Footscray and Sandringham vs Williamstown match-ups.
1st Qualifying Final
Box Hill Hawks (1st) vs Footscray (4th)
Saturday September 5, 2pm, Box Hill City Oval
The rematch of last year’s Grand Final fittingly pits the VFL’s no.1 attacking team in terms of points scored (Hawks) against the league’s no.1 defensive team in terms of points conceded (Bulldogs). A lot has changed since Footscray’s 2014 flag victory and even since the last time these teams met this season. Back in Round 1 at VU Whitten Oval, Box Hill prevailed by 13 points despite having seven less scoring shots.
Joint ‘Frosty’ Miller Medallist Sam Grimley showed the Bulldogs how to do it, kicking four goals straight for the Hawks, while Dan Howe and Tim O’Brien were also influential with two majors each. Many of Footscray’s prime movers that day such as Lachie Hunter, Shane Biggs and Clay Smith won’t play on the weekend, but the Dogs still boast potential match-winners like the prolific Brent Prismall, ruckman Will Minson and key forward Tom Boyd. This will be a fascinating tactical battle mirroring the game styles of their aligned AFL clubs, with Box Hill (similar to Hawthorn) the league’s no.1 team for kicks and marks per game and Footscray (similar to the Western Bulldogs) the no.1 team for handballs per game.
2nd Qualifying Final
Sandringham (2nd) vs Williamstown (3rd)
Sunday September 6, 2pm, Trevor Barker Beach Oval
The Zebras are in the best form of any team in the league, having won seven straight games and 11 of their last 12 to snatch a home final from the Seagulls. The home ground advantage could be crucial too, as Sandringham has won its last six matches at Trevor Barker Beach Oval while Williamstown hasn’t played there since Round 20 last year. When these teams last met in Round 2 at Burbank Oval though, it was the Seagulls who showed their dominance, leading all day to record a 58-point victory.
Williamstown’s Anthony Anastasio booted four goals, while Ben Jolley and Ed Carr (both 31 disposals) ran rampant through the middle. Sandringham is only ranked no.12 in the league for disposals but is the no.1 team for long kicks, getting the ball inside 50 quickly where dynamic forwards Ahmed Saad, Darren Minchington and Eli Templeton can pounce. But Clint Jones and the Zebs’ midfield will need to win the ball from the league’s no.1 team for contested possessions and clearances. With on-ball guns like Jolley, Adam Marcon and Mitch Banner being fed by ruckman Nick Meese, the Seagulls will be hard to stop.
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Photo: Dave Savell
Last Modified on 04/09/2015 09:21
