Box Hill Hawks have completed a hat trick of reserves premiership victories, as they claimed the 2011 title against Coburg Tigers last Saturday at TEAC Oval. The Hawks held aloft the premiership cup for the fourth time in six years, defeating the gallant Tigers by 65 points in the Grand Final as Russell Hopkins reports.
The weather Gods smiled down on the Peter Jackson VFL Reserves Grand Final with blue skies greeting both sides, but a tricky cross-wind favoured the scoreboard end in the first term.
Early in the match both teams were tenacious at the ball, desperate to apply scoreboard pressure. There was considerable pressure on Box Hill, who were clear favourites after an 18-2 season. Home and away season results favoured the Hawks, but Coburg had claimed a few big scalps to come from sixth on the reserves ladder in their march to the Grand Final.
A large and parochial crowd present made plenty of noise for the underdog. There was no doubt this would be an entertaining game, as Coburg rose to the challenge, at least physically early and were not just there to make up the numbers.
Box Hill through some great early play kicked away with three quick goals to nil in the first quarter with the breeze. Sam Menegola and Jayden Hoegel both were on the scoreboard early, with Menegola having the dream start with the first two majors of the game. Box Hill looked exciting when the ball was delivered ‘lace out’ to their leading forwards. Coburg, despite their efforts, just couldn’t capitalise on their opportunities but this was also in part due to a miserly Box Hill defence, which refused to concede with Jordan Lisle playing loose in defense.
The second quarter saw Coburg hit back in a flurry with the first two goals of the term, before Box Hill once again stamped their ascendancy on the game to push the lead back to 15 points at the main break. More accuracy from the Coburg Tigers forwards could well have seen them level at the main break, having kicked 2.5 for the term, but their inability to restrict the hawks against the breeze also hampered them. Leigh Kitchin, the eventual Best On Ground winner, was sensational burying deep in to the packs, refusing to let himself be second to the ball.
The third quarter was where Box Hill stamped their authority upon the game, with Jayden Cass, Kitchin and Liam Tobin all leading the way towards blowing the game out to a 33pt lead at the last change. David Fahey and Luke Cartelli tried hard for Coburg, whilst Andy Duhau and Patrick Ambrose chipped in with goals, but the damage had already been done, especially with what was now a roaring cross wind.
Whilst Coburg reduced the margin back to 27 points early in the final term, the Hawks switched on the afterburners in the last quarter, kicking the final six goals to run out 65 point victors.
The task of singling out the best for Box Hill was an unenviable one. Every player contributed towards a total team effort to take out Box Hill’s hat trick of reserves premierships. Leigh Kitchin was judged the best on ground, and was one of only three players to play in all three of the Hawks hattrick of premierships. Other best players included Xavier Murphy, Tim Northe, Jackson Sketcher, Aaron Johns and Josh Ralph. Hoegel and Menegola led the way up forward with 3 goals apiece. For Coburg their best were Kahlefeldt, Cartelli, Fahey and Jonathan Morris, whilst Patrick Ambrose and Rohan Hore kicked two goals each.
Click HERE for photo's from the reserves Grand Final
Photo credit: Damian Visentini
Last Modified on 20/09/2011 16:01