WERRIBEE Tigers, making its first return to the finals since 2008, can finally extinguish Box Hill Hawks season.
After appearing poised at one point to snare a top four spot, Werribee tumbled out of calculations for a double chance when they dropped its last two home and away games.
But, Werribee will find Box Hill Hawks a far easier proposition than rampaging Casey Scorpions and reigning premiers North Ballarat.
And, to make the equation more favourable, Werribee gets to play at Chirnside Park, where the club is 6-2 this season.
The VFL Hawks scrambled into the eight after winning three late season games, two by 12-points or less, and then watched clubs beneath them implode.
Box Hill Hawks is also coming off successive defeats. They were smashed by 101-points against Williamstown then, to its credit, rebounded positively to run the unbeaten Port Melbourne to 20-points.
While Werribee has only beaten one club – Casey Scorpions in round 14 – above it on the ladder, they have been competitive in most of their top-of-the-table tussles.
And, it owned a 47-point win against Box Hill Hawks in round 5 at Chirnside Park where Ben McKinley kicked six goals and Cam Pederson kicked three against his old club.
While Pederson will be missing, McKinley will be in the side and he’s been Werribee’s go-to-guy in attack. He’s kicked 46 goals, good enough for a top five finish on the goal kicking ladder.
Box Hill Hawks’ team that match included Hawthorn players Isaac Smith, Ryan Schoenmakers, Max Bailey and Luke Breust. It’s highly unlikely any of that quartet will be available for the VFL affiliate. In fact Box Hill will have only one Hawthorn listed player that took to the field last week playing for them when they face Werribee.
For the VFL Hawks to stay in the contest they must close down Werribee’s supply to McKinley and goal sneak Robbie Castello.
If that is to happen Box Hill Hawks must restrict Dominic Gleeson, Travis Tuck , Matt O’Dwyer, Ben Ross, Ben Sharp and Ben Warren getting too much of the ball.
And, that’s no easy task. Luckily for the Hawks North Melbourne ruckman Hamish McIntosh will be playing AFL this week, but emerging protégé Majak Daw will fill his shoes of recent weeks, and he has grown in status the longer the season has progressed.
Daw would have gone head to head with Brent Renouf and former Liston Trophy winner Paul Johnson had it been round 22, but this week the Box Hill Hawks will be light on for ruckmen.
Box Hill Hawks has been superbly led by captain Sam Gibson, but it’s the Hawthorn influence will be significant.
The major concern for the Hillmen is who is going to kick them enough goals to win. Despite the loss of players to Hawthorn this week, one handy addition is Adam Pattison from injury.
Jordan Lisle (AFL this week) and Derick Wanganeen (back from injury) have been Box Hill Hawks main goal scorers, but combined they’ve managed one goal more than McKinley. Lisle in recent weeks has also been playing in defence, whilst Wanganeen did not play against Port last week.
It’s a long trip from Box Hill to Werribee, but it shapes as an even longer trip back with the curtain drawn on the VFL Hawks season.
Last Modified on 02/09/2011 15:20