First quarter: The feeling out process lasted all of six minutes before Box Hill’s Liston Trophy winner Alex Woodward broke through for the first goal. Woodward lit the spark for an entertaining quarter of football that would see the sides split eight goals.
Footscray’s first major came through bearded big man Tom Campbell from a strong overhead mark in what would be a precursor to a dominant aerial game from the ruckman.
The goal-for-goal continued when Box Hill’s second goal through Dallas Willsmore was countered by Footscray’s Jack Redpath – both on the back of contested marks.
Footscray’s first term was blighted by skill errors and Hawk forward James Sicily needed no second invitation when a sloppy kick-in landed in his arms and he sent it back with interest. Sicily kicked a second two minutes later to give the Hawks a two-goal advantage.
Michael Fogarty, a Bulldogs homegrown product out of WRFL club Spotswood, halved the deficit when he marked from a kick-in and fired home from the set shot, then defender Tom Young slotted a team-lifting goal on the run to have the scoreboard tied up at quarter-time.
Quarter-time: Footscray 4.2 (26), Box Hill 4.2 (26)
Second quarter: Footscray started the second term like a house on fire with a Jarrad Grant soccer goal seconds into the quarter giving his side the lead for the first time in the match.
With the half-back line providing plenty of drive out of defence and youngster Fogarty impacting in the midfield, the Bulldogs enjoyed a period of sustained attack.
The rewards would come through goals to Jason Tutt and Liam Jones. By the 14-minute mark the Dogs had opened up an 18-point lead.
The skill errors that hurt the Bulldogs in the first term crept in late in the second, and none hurt more so than Mitch Jensen’s howler from the last line of defence, which saw Mitch Hallahan pounce to goal for the Hawks.
The Hawks booted the last two goals of the quarter through Hallahan and full-forward Sam Grimley to cut the margin to one point.
Half-time: Footscray 7.4 (46), Box Hill
7.3 (45)
Third quarter: Box Hill maintained the rage early in the third term, with Luke Lowden wrenching back the lead with a 50-metre bomb that momentarily took the wind out of the sails of the massive Footscray following.
The Hawks were not done yet, with Ben Ross making it five goals in a row when he pounced on yet another kick-in error to stretch the lead to two goals.
Footscray needed to arrest the slide and Daniel Pearce took it upon himself to rise three-deep for a nice contested mark and went back and kicked truly.
The Bulldogs finally got back into their groove, using the full width of the playing arena to set up Tory Dickson for a goal that trimmed the deficit to two.
Then Jones soared over a Hawks defender to mark and goal, putting the Dogs four points in front in time-on.
Box Hill owned the red time period with goals to Sam Collins and Billy Hartung.
Hartung’s was one of the goals of the year – he gathered the ball on centre wing, took three bounces and steadied to put the Hawks out to a seven-point lead.
Three-quarter-time: Footscray 10.7 (67),
Box Hill 11.7 (73)
Fourth quarter: When Box Hill extended its lead to 18 points through Sicily and Ross six minutes into the last term, there were serious doubts over whether the Bulldogs had it in them to mount another comeback.
The Hawks were running on top of the ground, despite a limited bench rotation.
The message went out to the Bulldogs players to get the ball forward by any means.
At the ensuing centre bounce after the Ross goal, the Dogs cleared through a long forward 50 entry. Dickson was able to turn onto his preferred right foot to goal thanks to a shepherd from teammate Jason Johannisen. It breathed life into the players for one last push.
Jones kicked a third two minutes later and scores were tied after Redpath laid a ferocious tackle on Hawks defender Ryan Schoenmakers and goaled from the resulting free.
Christian Howard put the Bulldogs six points in front when he delicately goaled from a set shot on a tight angle.
Box Hill would not roll over, generating a number of frenzied forward thrusts.
With most players out on their feet, youngster Will Hayes bobbed up to play an important late role for the Dogs, including an 80-metre lead to mark a clearing kick out of defence that had a settling effect on his side when the Hawks threatened. Moments later, the Bulldogs got their backbreaking goal when Jones booted his fourth to stretch the lead to 13 at the 27-minute mark. Jones put the icing on the sweetest of cakes with a fifth goal.
Full-time: Footscray 16.13 (109), Box Hill Hawks 13.9 (87).
