Box Hill scored its second win of the season after dismantling an undermanned Collingwood outfit by 55 points at Box Hill City Oval on Saturday, as Adem Saricaoglu reports.
A seven-goal second quarter burst secured the win for the Hawks, who trailed by three points at quarter time.
The 41-point turnaround effectively iced the game by halftime, as the Pies struggled to contain Box Hill’s precise kicking game with limited personnel.
Collingwood stalwart Alan Didak made his case for Anzac Day selection with a blistering opening half, gaining 16 disposals and getting involved in numerous scoring plays that kept the Pies in touch with Box Hill in the first quarter.
However it was the AFL experience of Chance Bateman, Stephen Gilham and skipper Daniel Pratt that ensured Box Hill kicked away after quarter time.
Collingwood coach Tarkyn Lockyer said the game was lost in a second quarter he described as a “debacle”.
“We started well, but we probably let them kick a few easy goals,” he said.
“I just felt towards the second half of the first quarter we just started bombing the ball in again.
“The second quarter was in the balance and we didn’t want it. They were far too good.”
While the first term was fast and physical, the game opened up even more in the second term and Box Hill made the most of it.
Their sharp kicking game kept the ball away from Collingwood and resulted in five unanswered goals.
“We couldn’t get our hands on the ball in the centre clearances and we probably got smashed out of the middle, and their kicking skills were good,” Lockyer said.
“So if our pressure’s not at 100 per cent they’re going to cut you open.
“Their foot skills over the whole day were pretty impressive.”
Former Gold Coast Sun VFL captain Marc Lock was particularly impressive for the Hawks, nailing his third goal after halftime before setting up Pratt for another a few minutes later to extend the lead to 51.
From there the game had fizzed out completely, with Box Hill going into cruise-control.
Injuries to its AFL side undoubtedly impacted Collingwood, being forced to play with effectively no one on the bench for much of the second half.
Lockyer acknowledged the club’s injury crisis when asked if it was a factor on the field after the game.
“You could see in the last quarter we just had no run and in the end we didn’t have anyone on the bench and we really struggled.”
Box Hill coach Damian Carroll concurred with Lockyer, but said his own side have things to work on going forward.
“We saw some signs last week that were positive - but today was a lot better and we’ve just got to continue to come in with a good attitude, play the game, work as a team and (we) might get some good results,” Carroll said.
“We understand that they had a lot out today so (there’s) a long way to go and there’s some stuff we still need to work on.”
Broc McCauley was excellent for the Hawks, scoring two goals while providing good service to his rovers in the ruck, while Lock, Pratt, Danny Hughes and Tom Schneider all got three.
Gilham, Schneider, Matt Jones and Tom Murphy were all among Box Hill’s best.
Jamie Elliot snuck four goals for Collingwood while Didak added two goals to his tally late in the game.
Didak, Jack Hellier, Ricky Ferraro and Sam Williams were named as Collingwood’s best.
Lockyer said it was up to Collingwood’s fitness staff whether Didak would make his AFL comeback on Anzac Day.
“I thought he was better today than what he was last week, particularly early on I thought he was moving really well so we were pleased for him and obviously to get through more game time was good.”
Lockyer also hinted a possible return for defender Nathan Brown.
This week sees seventh-placed Box Hill travelling to Craigieburn to play Coburg, while 11th-placed Collingwood returns to Victoria Park to play Sandringham in the ABC TV game.
Photo: Jenny Owens
Last Modified on 23/04/2012 17:18