The Hawker Shopping Early.

We expected a hard, close contest against the Heathmont Jets Football Club for our round 14 clash on their home ground and that’s what we received.

Those who witnessed the Hawkers’ 1st quarter against the Jets would agree that this was 30 minutes of fast, quality, disciplined team footy from the Hawker.  From the opening bounce we were hard at the ball, clean with our hands and precise with our foot skills. The Hawker excited their supporter base as they ran in waves, tackled, smothered and took strong contested marks against an opposition who seemed shell shocked and could not match the pace of the Hawker.

A great team effort with the backline holding the opposition to a solitary behind while the Hawker kicked 6 goals 6 to take a 41-point lead into quarter time.

The Hawker knew that the Jets would not lie down.  They were playing on their home deck, a large home crowd, hosting a past players day and kicking to the downhill scoring end.  The quarter started ok for the Hawker as we matched the Jets’ early goals to keep up the scoreboard pressure.  At the 10 minutes mark you could see the Jets building their spread and running game off the backline and across the centre.  Their quality players started to get their hands on the ball and distributed with confidence and accuracy.  The Jets outscored The Hawker 6 goals 3 to 3 goals to reduce the Hawkers’ lead to 20 points at the long break.

The expectation was that the Hawker would kick to the scoring end and put scoreboard pressure on the Jets.  This expectation would be further from the truth as the 3rd quarter was played in close, hard and contested with both sides missing important scoring opportunities.  Brayden Bowes put his brand on the game with a great quarter of footy.  Harry “Snake” Burgess controlled the Jets’ big forward and the midfield fed the forwards but neither side could not kick a major.  The Hawker added 5 behinds while the Jets added 6 behinds for the quarter giving the Hawker a 19-point lead going into the last.

Big crowds circled both huddles as we awaited the last quarter to start. Like the 3^rd, the quarter started with both sides playing contested footy.  There was a buzz around the ground as the first goal for either side would have a big say in the outcome of the game.  First blood came at the 12-minute mark to the Hawker to put a 22-point gap on the Jets.  For the next 10 minutes the Hawker contributed a couple of undisciplined acts and this, combined with the Jets’ pressure, allowed the Jets to kick the next 3 goals.  We should highlight the fact that the Jets had a number of opportunities to take marks in their forward 50 in the last 2 minutes but some fantastic spoils and one on one wins in contests saw the Hawker take a 4-point win against a very good side.

Five Points

• Always shop early (scoreboard pressure).
• The Hawker puts a 3-game gap on the Jets after the win.
• The 1st quarter gave us a glimpse of the future.
• Josh Hannon marking, Godders run of half back and Damon’s work rate were a highlight in the 1^st
• Both sides will get players back to setup an exciting finish to the season.

@boroniahawks Senior Scoreboard – presented by Knox Club

Boronia 10.13 73 d Heathmont 9.15 69
Goal Kickers: B. Bowes 2, J. Hannon 2, L. Hannon 2, Z. Dower, J. Godwin, B. Robertson, B. Rapisarda
Best Players: H. Burgess, J. Bolton, L. Hannon, D. Fairchild, J. Lake, J. Godwin

With possibly the strongest team available for almost six weeks we headed to Heathmont looking to break our losing run.  The Heathmont sporting complex was full to overflowing with women’s footy in full swing we were forced to do our preparation in the great outdoors.  The mood was good and we felt confident as we had played four quarters the previous week and only missed by less than a kick.

The ball was thrown up and we scored a major within the first couple of minutes.  We looked “on” early, perhaps a bit premature in the confidence department.  The next ball up was cleared easily by our opponents and they goaled shortly after.  We held our proverbial breath and witnessed the best quarter of footy by any of our opponents this season.

At the quarter time break we asked for man on man footy in the second and to stem the tide.  We failed in several key positions to adhere to man on man and their loose players cut us to bits.  Although we stemmed the goals we could not dent their confidence and they used the ball by foot well, switching and marking at will.

The long break came quickly, we entered the rooms for some soul searching.  We were confident we could peg them back if we played our best footy.  The voice from the other side of the dividing roller door was heard to say “They will come and come hard, do not under estimate them.”  This made our opponents want the football even more.

We chased hard all day but never really got to where we wanted to go.  We played into their hands by panic kicks, turn overs and lack of wanting the contest.  This was not the style of play we played earlier in the season by a long shot.

Have we dropped the ball? Got ahead of ourselves? Become complacent?

I think not.  Our attendance at training has dropped and we look tired.  Our opposition have had a good look at us now, so we now have to do something different  to mix things up a little.  There are no EXCUSES to be had and if there was we wouldn’t use them.

We take on top of the ladder Ferntree Gully next week and a win is a must to stay in the hunt for finals football.  The future lays in our hands and ours alone.  Let’s work harder than ever on the track and change our results and play the footy we know we can.

@boroniahawks D Squad Scoreboard – presented by Alchester IGA

Heathmont 16.8 104 d Boronia 7.10 52
Goal Kickers: J. Stamatakos 2, J. Rambaldo, J. Granland, L. Johnson, J. Paterson, T. Dower.
Best Players: L. Johnson, B. Castersen, J. Granland, B. Wright, D. Dower, R. Migues.

A big day of footy awaited the 19’s, D Squad and Seniors as we played traditional rivals The Basin at Batterham Park. For the seniors this game was an opportunity to get back to playing team footy and putting a gap on the ladder between the top 3 and the rest of 3rd division.

The Hawker started the 1st quarter full of run.  Our midfield ran hard both ways and continually drove the ball into our forward line.  Josh Hannon kicked our first goal with a crisply timed drop punt from 45 meters on the run.  Whitey, Luke Hannon and the skip were in everything; Robbo “Senior” was pivotal across half forward and our backline combined to rebound the opposition forward attacks.  The quarter was soured by the serious injury to Jayden Collins who was thrown to the ground in a tackle and had to be taken to hospital for tests and observation.  Dangerous sling tackles need to be taken out of our game.  The Hawker should have kicked a couple more goals but finished 23 points in front of The Basin at quarter time: 4.5 29 to 1.0 6.

The Basin have not won a game this year against the top 4 sides and the Hawker coaching staff knew they would come out hard in the second and that’s what happened.  The Basin’s hard running off their half backline and through the middle was a feature of their play.  The Hawker worked hard but turned the ball over a number of times which gave The Basin the opportunity to put scoreboard pressure on The Hawks.  The Basin’s ground can open you up or close you down if you cough up the ball to the opposition.  The Basin played their home ground exactly this way to dominate the Hawker in parts of the quarter.  If not for The Basin’s inaccuracy (3 goals 7 points to 1 goal 1 point) in front of goal the scoreboard could have been worse; with the Hawker taking a slender 5 point lead into the main break.

The third quarter was played in a close, tight and highly contested manner by both sides.  Even though our backline was undersized against the taller opposition they continually transitioned the ball from defence to attack.  Hammer was front and centre in scouting the ball off the deck, the twin towers across half forward (Robbo and Robbo) started to gel with Robbo Junior gaining confidence after a long layoff and kicked a big goal.  Brayden Bowes started to influence the game and chipped in with 2 goals of his own to give the Hawker a 21 point lead going into three quarter time.  Boronia 8.7 55 to The Basin 4.10 34.

There was a large Hawker crowd at the three-quarter time huddle.  Clarky addresses his players in a controlled manner and makes a point of the team KPI’s.  The next 30 minutes would need a team effort if we were to hold off The Basin who would be kicking to the scoring end to the roar of their fanatical supporters.

The fourth quarter was played similar to the third: a physical game with a lot of stoppages and a lot of tackles.  The momentum changed when Josh Hannon delivered a big goal to kick his 3rd for the day and put a 25 point margin on the opposition.  Even though The Basin had many opportunities to kick goals in the last 10 minutes of the quarter, the Hawker held firm against the 4th highest offensive side in the league (Boronia is 5^th); the Hawker taking a well-deserved 18 point victory over our traditional rival.

Five Points:

• We wish a quick recovery to both Collo and the Reserves ump who went down at 3/4 time.
• The team effort was the catalyst to give us a victory to help set up the rest of our year.
• Midfield provided great support for our big forwards.
• Backline kept the opposition to only 1 goal in the second half.
• A crack down on dangerous sling tackles is needed.

@boroniahawks Seniors Scoreboard – presented by Knox Club

Boronia 9.10 64 d The Basin 5.16 46
Goal Kickers: J. Hannon 3, B. Bowes 2, L. Hannon 2, Z. Robinson, B. Robertson
Best Players: B. McAlpine, J. Hannon, L. Hannon, H. Burgess, T. Steele, R. White.

Another great day for football greeted us at our home ground.   The girls were kicking goals and we were eager to show our wares as well.  A late call up for Wrighty and a chance to see Patty Kinniff in action at last.  Ready for battle we looked good on paper once again and everyone was eager to make amends for our last outing.

The first was messy and once again forward delivery started poorly.  If not for one of our smaller brigade in Cam Flanagan we may have struggled to score a major in the term.  Everyone is trying there hardest but rhythm just isn’t quite there at the moment.  It will come when we play as a team and demand more from ourselves.

The backline was again in charge and delivered the ball forward time after time. Trying a few moves can unsettle the team but we need to know who can stand up under pressure, so some players were out of their regular spots.

We were mostly in charge of play but turnovers cost us on plenty of occasions.  Milde was leading the way with his ability to read the flight of the ball and then use it wisely.  Kinniff was marking strongly, getting into position and beating his opponent hands down.

The Dowers are having a great season and are raising the bar each game they play.  With Carro delivering the ball by hand we should dominate every ball up.  Our opponents work to his dominance and we must mix it up better in coming weeks.

Leading at the long break, the challenge was five  goals in the third, but it wasn’t to be and Ringwood out scored us.  Not with better skills but with more desperation at the ball.  We looked tired in the second half and perhaps the week off will reenergise us. We must play better against stronger teams.  This is our challenge.  We have the players and the skills – we now need to gel it all together.

After the week off we will have several players ready to return from various injuries and once again spots in the team will be at a premium. Training will dictate who pulls on the boots for our next game.

@boroniahawks D Squad Scoreboard – presented by Alchester IGA

Boronia 6.8 44 d Ringwood 6.5 41
Goal Kickers: C. Flanagan 2, S. Bell 2, R. Warren, J. Rambaldo
Best Players: K. Milde, C. Flanagan, D. Dower, N. Carrodus, P. Kinniff, S. Bell.

“If we were going to fly the flag…….” by The Voice in the Outer

A huge day awaited the Hawks crowd as the top two sides were playing off for top spot and bragging rights.  Each side was missing a few regular players but there was plenty of talent on display.

I don’t know how many tosses we’ve won this year, but again we kicked against the breeze in the first.  Ringwood had come to play and took full advantage of the breeze. They worked the Hawker over in our forward half, pressured us around the stoppages and worked harder across the ground.  Robbo Junior took a great mark and kicked true for the Hawkers’ only goal for the quarter.  Ringwood were helped by a couple of very technical free kicks but deserved their 3 goal lead at 1/4 time.

Into the 2nd and kicking to the scoring end, The Hawker started to win a few clearances and we saw five minutes of brilliance by “COLLO” kicking two snap goals from 30 metres to capitalise on the good work out of the guts.  When the Hawker gets its’ hand ball game going even the best sides in the comp find it hard to stop.  The Hawker showed glimpses of the previous eight weeks form but were a bit gun shy to run and carry the footy.  Ringwood showed again that they are a well-structured and well coached side by kicking a couple of late goals to take a 16-point lead into the long break.

The 3rd quarter was played mainly in Ringwood’s forward half.  The Hawker backline competed well against the continual opposition forward entries and held firm for most of the quarter. Kyle Matthews, number 17 for Ringwood, brought his own footy and was devastating by foot and continually set Ringwood up from his team’s defensive side.  The quarter was a real arm wrestle with both sides only kicking a single goal each until Ringwood broke the stalemate, after being awarded another technical ruck free kick in the ruck, to kick their second goal for the quarter to extend their lead to 25 points at 3/4 time.  What I didn’t like was seeing an injured Boronia player on his knees trying regain his breath and an opposition player standing over him, getting stuck into him.  If we were going fly the flag then this would have been the time to do it.

For the first three quarters the Hawker had played very much within themselves, very much non-risk safe football.  Even though we started the last quarter with plenty of energy and looked to negate Ringwood’s defensive setup by playing a seven man back line, we had a number of good opportunities to close the gap on the scoreboard but were continually shut down by inconsistent ball movement.  The quarter finished with both sides kicking two goals each and Ringwood winning the game by 25 points.

Ringwood were the far better side today and deserve to be clear flag favourites.  They have a great setup behind the ball and spread well.  Their general in the backline (number 17) controlled the game all day.  For the Hawks, we had a number of solid contributors, but also had a few boys down on their season form to date.  We didn’t play the footy that we played in the first 8 rounds.  Today we lost, but from what I saw from the outer we have plenty of upside and there is nothing the Hawker can’t handle that was dished up by Ringwood today.   We can close the gap if we get back to our game plan.  We have had a fantastic first half of the season, so everyone enjoy the long weekend and see you when we play Donvale.

Go Hawks.

@boroniahawks Seniors Scoreboard – presented by Knox Club

Ringwood 10.10 70 d Boronia 7.3 45
Goal Kickers: J. Collins 2, B. Wright 2, Z. Robinson, L. McKernan, N. Allen
Best Players: J. Godwin, J. Lake, J. Hannon, B. Rapisarda, R. White.