By Daniel Dufty
Box Hill recorded its 8th win for the season, reeling in a 16 point three-quarter time deficit to eventually defeat Port Melbourne 9.20.74 to 9.12.66.
With scores level minutes before the final siren, a telling goal by Sam Gibson gave the Hawks a miraculous win.
Again great belief in their own ability, Box Hill defied the odds for the 2nd time this season in the dying stages.
The Hawks responded to some stirring words from coach Brendon Bolton at the third term break, to come out a different side in the final quarter.
Bolton was delighted with the comeback but not so impressed with the Hawks missed opportunities in front of goal.
"It was pretty similar to last week against Williamstown, we missed a lot of set shots," Bolton said.
"I thought we won a fair bit of the play but didn't capitalise up forward. At times we kept Port right in the game.
"But it was a really important game for us, we really needed to win . . . to keep right in the mix.”
Box Hill opened up its newly built South Pavilion to supporters who watched a game which will be well remembered.
Going into the match, Box Hill on paper looked a smaller side with Port Melbourne’s height looking to cause issues but the Hawks used everything they had to their advantage.
After a solid opening term by both sides, Brendan Whitecross placed through two first quarter goals seeing Box Hill break open a 12-point lead.
With teams struggling to get the football through the goal posts at either end, Port Melbourne’s Michael Dillon got knocked out with a heavy blow on the Hawks defensive 50m line.
Restricting Port Melbourne’s bench to three, the Borough silenced the Hawks with four goals on the trot to run to a seven-point lead.
Running goalless in the 2nd, Box Hill’s inefficiency up forward cost the Hawks a likely lead.
Having a lot more of the football, still with no reward the Hawks set themselves a chase of 16 points into the final term.
The reversal was no more astounding than it was simple. When Box Hill pressured Port Melbourne’s ball carriers their structure crumbled and the Hawks worked their way back into the contest.
A first minute goal to Travis Tuck in the final quarter bought the Hawks a life-line.
Goals to Yze and Muston closed the gap until with scores level Sam Gibson placed through the match-winner for the Hawks.
Placing on the after burners in the final term, five goals to two watched the Hawks move out of jail.
The backline of: Co-Captain Lukas Markovic, Lachlan McQueen-Miscamble, Haydn Kiel and Matt Suckling held-up extremely well all game, with the Hawks conceding only four goals in the second half.
Keeping Port Melbourne forwards Adrian DeLuca and Adrian Bonaddio goalless ensured the Hawks made the Borough look for other means of scoring.
Port Melbourne’s Dylan McLaren height and great kicking up forward helped the Borough look for the win but it just wasn’t enough.
Cory McGrath, Patrick Hassett, Stephen Brewer and the lively Wayne Schultz up forward were Port Melbourne’s better players.
Box Hill Co-Captain Steve Kenna was in everything with his 32 touches earning best a field honours.
Ed Curnow helped out with (26), Gibson (32), while Haydn Kiel was strong once again in defence (20) and Travis Tuck around the ground (20).
Jarryd Morton (20) played as a livewire throughout the match up forward especially in the first and third quarters ending up with two well deserved goals.
Robert Campbell returned well from a knee injury in the ruck while Beau Muston (21) continued his good form for Box Hill.
Next Box Hill faces Coburg Tigers away at ABD Group Stadium in a match likely to see Richmond champion Matthew Richardson return to the field from injury.
Port Melbourne travels to Frankston in a match to consolidate their top-four position.
Box Hill Hawks: 3.3 / 3.7 / 4.12 / 9.20.74
Port Melbourne: 1.3 / 5.8 / 7.10 / 9.12.66
Box Hill Hawks Goals: S. Gibson 2, J. Morton 2, B. Whitecross 2, A. Yze, B. Muston, T. Tuck
Best: S. Kenna, H. Kiel, T. Tuck, J. Morton, B. Whitecross, C. Stokes
Port Melbourne Goals: D. McLaren 2, W. Schultz 2, R. McMahon, T. Pinwill, N. Batsanis, P. Raymond, C. Cain
Best: C. McGrath, P. Hassett, W. Schultz, S. Brewer, J. Dalton, S. Pleming
Last Modified on 27/07/2009 18:01