Box Hill Hawks Football Club


Box Hill Hawks Football Club is an Australian rules football club playing in the Victorian Football League. It has an alliance with the Hawthorn Football Club, which plays in the Australian Football League.

Early Australian rules football in Box Hill – 1903 to 1935

Organised Australian rules football within the municipality of Box Hill can be traced back to the year 1903. In that year Mr EFG Hodges, the proprietor of the "Reporter" newspaper, founded the "Reporter District Football Association". The six foundation teams were Bayswater, Box Hill, Canterbury, Ferntree Gully, Mitcham and Ringwood. This Box Hill team played on a ground approximately 400 metres south of where Box Hill City Oval is located today, the site is now partly occupied by the Box Hill High School and the Box Hill Cemetery. This team is wholly unrelated to the Box Hill Hawks Football Club of today but was the first team to be known as Box Hill and was the first Australian rules football team in the municipality.
In 1921 a team known as the Box Hill Junior Football Club participated in local competition and in 1923 the Eastern Suburban Protestant Churches Football Association was formed with two teams representing Box Hill; Box Hill United and Box Hill City. The Box Hill City Football Club was the fore-runner of the present day club and was the first to wear the brown and gold uniform associated with later Box Hill teams. In 1932 the Eastern Suburban Football League formed with Box Hill City as a foundation member. In 1935 Box Hill City merged with Box Hill East. Prior to the 1936 season Box Hill East, Box Hill District and Box Hill Methodists all merged to become the Box Hill Football Club and this event is now generally regarded as the formation of the present day Club.

Eastern Suburbs Football League years – 1936 to 1950

The newly formed Box Hill Football Club played at Surrey Park in 1936 and competed in the ESFL "B" Grade; qualifying for the Grand Final but being defeated by Hartwell. Both Grand Finalists were promoted to "A" Grade for season 1937 and in its first season in the higher grade Box Hill again reached the Grand Final, this time being defeated by Auburn.
In 1938 the team moved to the newly constructed Box Hill City Oval after the land south of Whitehorse Road was acquired by the Box Hill Cemetery Trust. The new oval was designed and constructed by the City Engineer, Mr FW Kerr, and provided first class facilities including grand stand with changing rooms and covered races, recorder board, conveniences, committee rooms, timekeeper's box and a kiosk. Chain mesh partitions were provided for the "inner" and "outer" spectator viewing areas. At the time the ground was regarded as the equal of any in Victoria.
In 1939 the "A" Grade premiership was won but the team withdrew from the ESFL after 11 rounds of the 1940 season as the logistics of fielding a team became impossible due to players enlisting for the War effort. The ESFL itself went into recess from 1942 to 1944 before resuming in 1945. Box Hill won the 1945 and 1946 "East Section" premierships. A third consecutive premiership was narrowly missed with the 1947 grand final being lost by 1 point to Mitcham. Box Hill was again defeated in the 1948 and 1949 grand finals, on each occasion by Ringwood. In 1950, in what was to prove Box Hill's final season in the ESFL, it lost the first semi-final to Tooronga by 1 point. During its 11 seasons in the ESFL, Box Hill only failed to qualify for the grand final on 3 occasions – 1938, 1940 and 1950.
Towards the end of the 1940s the Victorian Football Association adopted an expansionist policy aimed at bringing senior football to the newer and younger suburbs of Melbourne, a policy that would see the VFA increase in numbers from twelve to twenty Clubs by the mid-1960s. The first two Clubs admitted under this new strategy were Box Hill and Moorabbin who, at the end of the 1950 season, were invited to field teams in the VFA for the 1951 season.

VFA years – 1951 to 1995

The Box Hill Football Club made its debut in the VFA on Saturday 21 April 1951, at Preston. The team lost to Preston 7.9 to 16.14. Success did not come readily at first as the team largely based on its ESFL players and local juniors struggled to make the transition to senior football. The only premiership points gained during this first season were recorded in a drawn match against Williamstown at home in Round 13.
Improvement was steady during the early VFA years and the appointment of former Richmond champion and 1948 Brownlow Medallist Bill Morris as playing coach for the 1952 season proved to be an excellent choice. Morris attracted quality footballers to Box Hill and inspired the team through his own efforts. Morris played with Box Hill for three years and won the best and fairest by a huge margin each season and must still be regarded as one of the very best players ever to represent the club.
In 1956 Box Hill made its initial appearance in the VFA finals under captain-coach Col Austen. It defeated Brunswick in the first semi-final before losing to eventual premiers Williamstown in the preliminary final. Austen again guided the club into the finals in 1958, losing the first semi-final to Port Melbourne.
After the high points of 1956 and 1958, during the ensuing seasons Box Hill's performances began to decline. In 1960 the VFA was a single division of seventeen teams and Box Hill finished tenth. When divisional football was introduced for the 1961 season Box Hill therefore became the final club admitted to the newly formed ten team first division.
Box Hill finished last in the first division in 1961 and therefore became the first team to be relegated to the VFA second division. Divisional football was conducted in the VFA for 28 years from 1961 to 1988 and Box Hill played a total of 24 seasons in the second division. Only Northcote, Sunshine and Mordialloc were in the lower division for a longer period of time.
In 1960 the VFA introduced Sunday football which, as the only professional sport played in Melbourne on a Sunday, soon developed a large following and became a financial boon for VFA clubs that hosted Sunday matches. Box Hill, a conservative club in a conservative municipality, at first vigorously opposed the introduction of Sunday football and refused to play Sunday games. Even when the club changed its stance and agreed to play on Sundays in 1966, the Box Hill City Council continued to refuse permission for the club to host Sunday matches at Box Hill City Oval. Box Hill did not gain Council's permission to play Sunday matches on its own ground until 1969, the final VFA club to do so. Generally the club struggled throughout the 1960s as it suffered financially by not being able to play Sunday Football at home. Through the 1960s, the club relied on a successful Saturday night dance that it hosted at the Box Hill Town Hall for most of its income. Box Hill finished fourth in the second division in 1962 but did not reach the finals again until 1969 when it also finished fourth.
It was around 1968 that the nickname the "Mustangs" was adopted by the Box Hill Football Club. When the Club joined the VFA it was known as the "White Horses" and for a brief period during the mid-1960s was known as the "Stranglers", an obscure name which did not catch on.
Box Hill's improved form during 1969 was the launching place for a successful 1970 season in which it played Coburg in its first VFA grand final. Box Hill finished third on the ladder and defeated Brunswick in the first semi-final and Sunshine in the preliminary final to qualify for the grand final. Its opponent Coburg had lost only twice during the course of the season but both of these losses were to Box Hill and the Mustangs were therefore given a good chance of winning promotion. Coburg took the lead early and were never seriously threatened thereafter, winning 20.17 to 16.11.
After missing the finals narrowly in 1971 and 1972, a financial crisis caused by the collapse of the club's Saturday night dance and promises of large player contracts led to Box Hill granting nearly all of its paid players open clearances prior to the 1973 season. This precipitated a horror nine-year period for the club; between 1973 and 1981 it played 162 games for 18 wins, 143 losses and 1 draw. During those nine seasons, Box Hill finished last five times and second last four times and failed to win a game in both the 1973 and 1977 seasons.
Box Hill reached its lowest point in November 1980 when the incumbent committee, burdened by huge accumulated debts and years of poor on-field performances, resigned and called a public meeting at which the club was to be disbanded unless a new committee could be formed. A new committee headed by former club President John Zigouras took over the administration of the club and immediately introduced two administrative reforms. Firstly, former Box Hill player Keith Ralph Jnr was appointed as general manager, making Box Hill the first VFA club to have a full-time, paid administrator. Secondly the club addressed its financial problems by becoming one of the first sporting clubs in Victoria to gain a permit to conduct Bingo sessions.
Box Hill's financial position was stabilised in 1981 and thereafter the club's on-field performances improved rapidly culminating in an outstanding 1984 season in which Box Hill claimed its first VFA premiership in overwhelming fashion, losing only two games for the season and achieving the highest ever score and greatest winning margin ever recorded in a VFA grand final in defeating Oakleigh by 135 points, 32.23 to 11.14.
For Box Hill, in 1985 its first appearance in first division in 24 years unfortunately coincided with the VFA restructuring its competition. In mid-season it was announced that the bottom 3 teams on the first division ladder would be relegated, rather than the last placed club only. The result for Box Hill was that it immediately returned to second division after just 1 year back in the higher grade.
Box Hill responded by immediately claiming the 1986 second division premiership. It won the first 6 games of the season and thereafter maintained a place near the top of the ladder, finishing 2nd with just 3 losses. Box Hill defeated Sunshine in the second semi-final and again in the grand final to claim its 2nd premiership in 3 years. The grand final was closely fought with Box Hill steadying with the final 2 goals of the match to win by 18 points, 14.14 to 11.14. The grand final was marred by numerous spiteful incidents, with 6 Sunshine players reported on a total of 13 charges. Not one Box Hill player was reported.
Back in first division Box Hill steadily improved and between 1989 and 1994 experienced its most successful period during its years in the VFA competition, with 4 finals appearances in 6 years. In 1989 former Carlton premiership player Peter Francis guided the club to 3rd place, equalling its best VFA result to that time. In 1991 and 1992 Shane Molloy became the first coach to guide the Mustangs into consecutive finals series. In 1994 Box Hill finished 2nd on the ladder and reached its first major VFA grand final under the coaching of John Murphy. Box Hill established a 24-point lead at 3/4 time against the more favoured Sandringham team but was overrun in the final quarter, losing narrowly 10.9 to 11.12.
Box Hill's most successful VFA era ironically coincided with the decline of the VFA competition and its ultimate demise. After a high point of 24 clubs in 1983, the competition had dwindled to only 12 clubs by the 1994 season and more significantly the central administration of the VFA was in severe financial difficulty. In order to avoid total collapse, the central administration of the VFA relinquished control of the VFA competition at the end of the 1994 season; it was transferred to the Victorian State Football League which had previously been responsible for establishing and administering the TAC Cup competition. The new administration disbanded the VFA Under 19s and did not offer Dandenong Redlegs, Oakleigh and Prahran licenses in the VFA competition for the 1995 season, leaving just 9 clubs to compete for the VFA premiership for the final time. Box Hill narrowly missed the finals in the last year of VFA competition, finishing 6th.

VFL years – 1996 to 2013

The creation of the Australian Football League from the previous Victorian Football League in 1990 had left a structural void within the heartland of Australian rules football, with no Victorian state based competition to provide a player pathway from the elite Under 18s TAC Cup competition.
In 1995 it was announced that a new state based competition would be formed, to be named the "Victorian Football League", as was its predecessor. Each Club would be linked to a TAC Cup Club and recruiting zone, of which there were to be 8 based in metropolitan Melbourne and 4 in regional Victoria. Initial speculation was that only some of the surviving VFA Clubs would be invited, along with a number of stronger metropolitan and regional Clubs. After a period of some uncertainty, all 9 remaining VFA Clubs, along with North Ballarat and Traralgon were granted licences for the first season of the new VFL competition in 1996. Box Hill was granted the licence for the eastern zone of metropolitan Melbourne, with Eastern Ranges becoming its feeder club from the TAC Cup competition. Box Hill's results in the initial VFL years between 1996 and 1999 showed a club which remained competitive but not able to win enough games to qualify for the Finals.
At the end of the 1998 season, the administrations of the AFL and VFL adopted the recommendations of the "Busse Report", which recommended the amalgamation of the Victorian-based AFL Reserve Grade competition with the VFL competition into a revamped and stronger VFL commencing in season 2000. Victorian based AFL clubs were to be permitted to participate in the VFL competition either by fielding its reserves teams or by entering into an "alignment" partnership with an existing VFL club, whereby the VFL club hosted players from the AFL club, effectively fielding a hybrid team.
Due to the complexities involved in finalising the details of such an arrangement, only 3 AFL clubs participated in an "alignment" partnership in the VFL in 2000. Box Hill and Hawthorn created one of the very first such partnerships, considered to be one of the more natural and logical of such arrangements, due to such factors as both clubs wearing brown and gold playing uniforms and Box Hill being geographically located within the heartland of Hawthorn's membership and supporter base. Moreover, Hawthorn's training base Glenferrie Oval was wholly unsuited to state league football, making the prospect of Hawthorn players playing at a quality suburban venue such as Box Hill City Oval an attractive one for that club. As part of the alignment partnership, Box Hill dropped its "Mustangs" nickname in favour of the "Hawks" nickname of Hawthorn but its brown and gold playing uniform with the large white horse emblem remained unchanged.
The early years of the restructured VFL competition handed a considerable advantage to clubs which had entered into "alignment" partnerships; the blend of full-time, professional AFL listed players with a smaller number of VFL players on most occasions proved to be too strong for "stand alone" VFL clubs composed entirely of part-time, semi-professional footballers. Such was the case for the Box Hill Hawks, which between 2000 and 2005 completed the most successful period of its long history, with 6 consecutive finals appearances.
The Box Hill Hawks claimed its first major division VFL premiership in 2001 under the coaching of former North Melbourne player and Werribee coach Donald McDonald. After finishing the home-and-away season in 2nd place with 15 wins and 5 losses, it defeated Springvale and the Murray Kangaroos to claim a grand final berth against Werribee. Werribee had only lost two games for the season and had twice comfortably defeated the Box Hill Hawks during the home-and-away round, but Box Hill jumped Werribee early and by halfway through the 2nd quarter had established a lead of more than six goals which Werribee was unable to threaten. In the end the Box Hill won comfortably by 37 points, 13.13 to Werribee 7.12.
The Box Hill Hawks again played in the grand final in 2003 under the coaching of former Western Bulldogs champion and 1990 Brownlow Medallist Tony Liberatore. During the course of the season, the Box Hill Hawks established a club record of 13 consecutive wins, but after losing the qualifying final to Wiliamstown, it defeated Werribee and Sandringham in knock-out finals to qualify for a grand final rematch against Wiliamstown. Wiliamstown, at that time aligned to Collingwood, fielded an unprecedented 16 AFL listed players in its grand final team and proved too strong for the Box Hill Hawks, which fought hard after it trailed by more than seven goals at half-time; Wiliamstown eventually prevailed by 29 points 13.14 to the Box Hill Hawks 9.9.
The 2004 season saw the Box Hill Hawks stage a dramatic mid-season turn around in its fortunes. Following a large turn-over of players after the 2003 grand final defeat, Box Hill lost the opening 6 games of the 2004 season under new coach Andy Collins and after 9 rounds was still last on the ladder with just 1 win. It then proceeded to win 12 games out of 13, winning its way through to the preliminary final before losing to Port Melbourne, just one victory away from a third grand final appearance in four seasons. The Box Hill Hawks made a 6th successive finals series in 2005 but bowed out in the first final, well beaten by Port Melbourne, and missed the finals for the next three years.
Box Hill returned the finals in 2009 for the first time since 2005 following a strong recruiting drive which yielded ex-Melbourne player Adem Yze and former AFL listed players Sam Iles and Ed Curnow. Under first-year coach Brendon Bolton, the team finished 5th on the ladder with 12 wins and 6 losses. It defeated Geelong in the First Elimination Final before narrowly losing an epic semi-final to Port Melbourne 19.10 to 19.14 in a game rated as one of the best played in the VFL for many years.
The Box Hill Hawks built on its improved form in 2009 with another strong performance in 2010, again under the leadership of Brendon Bolton. After an indifferent start to the season, the team came home strongly with seven consecutive wins in the second half of the season to again finish 5th on the ladder. In circumstances uncannily reminiscent of the previous season, the Box Hill Hawks won its Elimination Final in strong fashion and again met Port Melbourne in the First Semi-final. In tense a match played in quagmire conditions on Port Melbourne's home ground; the Box Hill Hawks defeated Port Melbourne for the first time in a finals game 14.11 to 12.17; the winning goal coming in the dying seconds. North Ballarat ended the Box Hill Hawks season in the Preliminary Final the following week, the match played at Box Hill City Oval.
Under a new senior coach, Springvale games record holder Damian Carroll, the Box Hill Hawks experienced an inconsistent season in 2011, winning just 7 games and losing a number by narrow margins to fall into 8th place on the ladder and qualify for a 3rd successive finals appearance. With a severely weakened team due to Hawthorn resting a number of its A.F.L. players, the Box Hill Hawks fought hard in the Elimination Final against Werribee before going down by 26 points.

ESFL Records

Grand Final appearances – 1936 to 1950

Grand Final Scores
Premiers1939
1945
1946
Box Hill 17.20 defeated East Hawthorn 12.12
Box Hill 11.20 defeated Ringwood 11.10
Box Hill 13.11 defeated Mitcham 9.10
Runners Up1936
1937
1947
1948
1949
Box Hill 15.6 lost to Hartwell 22.17
Box Hill 7.18 lost to Auburn 13.9
Box Hill 15.13 lost to Mitcham 15.14
Box Hill 12.13 lost to Ringwood 14.17
Box Hill 7.12 lost to Ringwood 16.18

ESFL season by season record – 1936 to 1950

YearCompetitionPlayedWonLostDrawnLadder
Position
Position
After Finals
1936*B Grade1813412/9Runners Up
1937*A Grade211652/10Runners Up
1938*A Grade191453/10Fourth
1939*A Grade211562/10Premiers
1940A Grade11568/10
1945*East Section161511/8Premiers
1946*East Section191543/9Premiers
1947*East Section1915311/9Runners Up
1948*East Section211474/10Runners Up
1949*East Section211562/8Runners Up
1950*East Section191363/10Fourth
TOTALS205150532

* Denotes Finals appearance
1940 – Box Hill withdrew after 11 rounds. Its remaining 7 games for the season were awarded to its scheduled opponent on forfeit.
1941 – Box Hill did not participate
1942 to 1944 – Competition suspended

VFA/VFL Competition Awards

Division One or Single Division
Premierships : 2001, 2013, 2018
Runners-ups : 1994, 2003, 2014, 2015
Minor Premierships : 2015
Club Champions : 1991, 2015
Wooden Spoons : 1951, 1961
Division Two
Premierships : 1984, 1986
Runners-ups : 1970
Minor Premierships : 1984
Club Champions
Wooden Spoons : 1964, 1968, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1978, 1980

VFA / VFL Records

VFA / VFL Grand Final appearances

Senior Grade – 1951 to 2019

Grand Final Scores
Premiers1984
1986
2001
2013
2018
Box Hill 32.23 defeated Oakleigh 11.14
Box Hill 14.14 defeated Sunshine 11.14
Box Hill Hawks 13.13 defeated Werribee 7.12
Box Hill Hawks 14.15 defeated Geelong 11.12
Box Hill Hawks 10.12 defeated Casey Demons 8.14
Runners Up1970
1994
2003
2014
2015
Box Hill 16.11 lost to Coburg 20.17
Box Hill 10.9 lost to Sandringham 11.12
Box Hill Hawks 9.9 lost to Williamstown 13.14
Box Hill Hawks 13.9 lost to Footscray 16.13
Box Hill Hawks 8.18 lost to Williamstown 18.12

Reserve Grade – 1951 to 2017

Grand Final Scores
Premiers2006
2009
2010
2011
2016
Box Hill Hawks 10.11 defeated Williamstown 8.11
Box Hill Hawks 16.18 defeated Sandringham 13.8
Box Hill Hawks 17.20 defeated Williamstown 16.9
Box Hill Hawks 18.10 defeated Coburg Tigers 7.11
Box Hill Hawks 26.16 defeated Casey Scorpions 10.7
Runners Up1956
1971
1984
1993
1995
2008
2012
2013
2014
2015
Box Hill 4.7 lost to Williamstown 14.16
Box Hill 14.9 lost to Brunswick 15.15
Box Hill 9.12 lost to Brunswick 17.13
Box Hill 5.7 lost to Sandringham 11.13
Box Hill 6.13 lost to Springvale 10.16
Box Hill Hawks 11.16 lost to Williamstown 16.17
Box Hill Hawks 15.11 lost to Coburg Tigers 16.12
Box Hill Hawks 12.12 lost to Williamstown 11.19
Box Hill Hawks 13.13 lost to Williamstown 18.18
Box Hill Hawks 8.12 lost to Williamstown 8.13

Thirds Grade – 1952 to 1994

Grand Final Scores
Premiers1968
1976
Box Hill 15.9 defeated Sunshine 13.13
Box Hill 27.15 defeated Sunshine 13.10
Runners Up1960
1961
1963
1971
1975
1991
Box Hill 7.6 lost to Preston 12.8
Box Hill 6.12 lost to Coburg 9.11
Box Hill 6.11 lost to Sunshine 9.10
Box Hill 8.8 lost to Sunshine 14.15
Box Hill 12.14 lost to Waverley 20.21
Box Hill 4.19 lost to Frankston 11.10

VFA / VFL highs and lows

Senior Grade – 1951 to 2019

Most consecutive wins13
Most consecutive losses28*
Highest scoreBox Hill 44.22 v Sunshine 6.12
Lowest scoreBox Hill 2.4 v Sunshine 2.8
Highest score againstWilliamstown 42.18 v Box Hill 13.16
Lowest score againstDandenong 1.5 v Box Hill 17.16
Greatest winning margin254 points: Box Hill 39.33 v Sunshine 2.1
Greatest losing margin180 points: Box Hill 9.7 v Waverley 36.25
Highest 1st Quarter14.3 v Williamstown
Highest 2nd Quarter13.5 v Sunshine
Highest 3rd Quarter13.4 v Brunswick/Broadmeadows
13.3 v Sunshine
Highest 4th Quarter14.4 v Northcote
Most senior games180: Jack Wright
Most senior goals340: Paul Bolton
Most goals in a game12: Paul Bolton v Northcote
12: Paul Bolton v Frankston

* Sequence of losses ended by a draw followed by 4 further losses, i.e. 33 matches without a win.
Reserve Grade – 1951 to 2017

Most consecutive wins20
Most consecutive losses15
Highest scoreBox Hill 54.41 v Kilsyth 3.5
Lowest scoreBox Hill 1.2 v Preston 26.19
Highest score againstBrunswick 52.33 v Box Hill 2.3
Lowest score againstBrighton 0.1 v Box Hill 27.22
Greatest winning margin342 points: 54.41 v Kilsyth 3.5
Greatest losing margin330 points: Box Hill 2.3 v Brunswick 52.33

Thirds Grade – 1952 to 1994

Most consecutive wins20
Most consecutive losses24
Highest scoreBox Hill 51.23 v Mordialloc 3.6
Lowest scoreBox Hill 0.1 v Sunshine 18.13
Highest score againstNorthcote 36.34 v Box Hill 2.6
Lowest score againstCaulfield 0.0 v Box Hill 38.25
Greatest winning margin315 points: 51.22 v Yarraville 2.1
Greatest losing margin232 points: Box Hill 2.6 v Northcote 36.34

VFA / VFL Best and Fairests

Senior Grade – 1951 to 2019

1960Don BrownJJ Liston TrophyVFA
1961Doug BeasyJJ Liston TrophyVFA Division One
1973Geoff BryantJ Field MedalVFA Division Two
1975Geoff BryantJ Field MedalVFA Division Two
1984Peter NicholsonJ Field MedalVFA Division Two
2002Sam MitchellJJ Liston TrophyVFL
2013Mitch HallahanJJ Liston TrophyVFL
2014Alex WoodwardJJ Liston TrophyVFL

Reserve Grade – 1951 to 2017

1964Ivor WitnishDoug Disher MedalVFA Division Two
1966Fred BayesDoug Disher MedalVFA Division Two
1967Fred BayesDoug Disher MedalVFA Division Two
1971Fred BayesDoug Disher MedalVFA Division Two
1989Gary WoodsA Todd MedalVFA
1995Mark GottliebsenA Todd MedalVFA
2003Ryan CassidyA Todd MedalVFL
2009Joel CrossA Todd MedalVFL
2014Peter McEvoyA Todd MedalAFL Victoria Development League

Thirds Grade – 1952 to 1994

1962Bob HuntF Gomez MedalVFA Division Two
1964Geoff BryantF Gomez MedalVFA Division Two
1970Geoff O'ReillyF Gomez MedalVFA Division Two
1982Peter TresederF Gomez MedalVFA Division Two
1989Don VelonaAG Gillon MedalVFA
1994Anthony BennettAG Gillon MedalVFA

VFA / VFL Competition Leading Goalkickers

Senior Grade – 1951 to 2019

1971Greg Barnett69 goalsVFA Division Two
1984Dale Carroll110 goalsVFA Division Two
2014Sam Grimley45 goalsVFL
2015Sam Grimley46 goalsVFL

Reserve Grade – 1951 to 2017*

2009Chris Hoegel49 goalsVFL
2014Peter McEvoy65 goalsAFL Victoria Development League
2016Jake Summers30 goalsAFL Victoria Development League

Thirds Grade – 1952 to 1994*

1971Peter Richardson85 goalsVFA Division Two
1983John O'Neill154 goalsVFA Division Two

* Records of Reserve Grade and Thirds Grade Goalkickers prior to 1989 are incomplete. Only known competition leading goalkickers are listed above.

VFA / VFL record against other clubs – 1951 to 2019

Senior Grade – 1951 to 2019

playedwonlostdrawnhighestlowest
Present Clubs:------
-v- Casey Demons64303428.13 3.9
-v- Coburg813743126.5 5.7
-v- Collingwood168823.15 7.15
7.15
-v- Essendon114718.18 7.9
-v- Footscray852118.12 10.8
-v- Frankston753836130.13 3.13
-v- Geelong29191021.20 9.11
-v- North Melbourne2211.7
10.13
11.7
10.13
-v- Northern Blues704028226.17 4.8
-v- Port Melbourne772353126.13 3.4
-v- Richmond94518.8 6.12
-v- Sandringham754133125.20 5.8
-v- Werribee91405129.24 3.6
-v- Williamstown953260325.16 3.16
Former Clubs:------
-v- Bendigo Gold2517824.23 8.8
-v- Berwick5534.32 13.22
-v- Brighton2518727.16 5.10
-v- Brunswick46123435.24 3.6
-v- Camberwell623130131.26 5.12
-v- Carlton4418.15 17.12
17.12
-v- Caulfield24131124.15 8.2
-v- Dandenong22101224.20 6.10
-v- Geelong West16411123.17 5.6
-v- Gold Coast1119.16 19.16
-v- Kilsyth5536.17 18.17
-v- Moorabbin24101437.20 3.10
-v- Mordialloc522029336.18 4.11
-v- Murray Kangaroos5522.13 13.16
-v- North Ballarat31161525.13 4.5
-v- Northcote56154136.21 3.7
-v- Oakleigh48202832.23 5.1
-v- Prahran361617323.18 3.10
-v- St Kilda1113.10 13.10
-v- Sunshine471927144.22 2.4
-v- Tasmania1265128.22 9.8
-v- Traralgon43124.12 7.12
-v- Waverley2461821.27 5.11
6.5
-v- Yarraville43133026.12 3.10
Totals132159171020

Reserve Grade – 1951 to 2017

playedwonlostdrawnhighestlowest
-v- Bendigo Bombers101032.21 11.15
-v- Berwick5529.25 13.11
-v- Brighton2518732.23 4.8
-v- Brunswick471234123.14 2.3
-v- Camberwell633527149.22 2.13
-v- Casey Demons73462733.15 1.7
-v- Caulfield24141026.21 2.3
-v- Coburg875135130.15 3.9
-v- Dandenong2014633.19 4.9
-v- Frankston905039135.26 3.8
-v- Geelong West167954.29 5.9
-v- Kilsyth54154.41 8.5
-v- Moorabbin25131223.24 2.9
-v- Mordialloc52252740.29 3.8
-v- North Ballarat33181522.18 4.6
-v- Northcote56154136.18 1.4
-v- Northern Blues77473032.16 1.2
-v- Oakleigh482423130.20 2.14
-v- Port Melbourne803940128.22 3.8
-v- Prahran37162134.24 4.11
-v- Sandringham854241228.10 4.7
-v- Sunshine45182744.24 4.10
-v- Waverley2542132.17 5.8
-v- Werribee975343128.17 4.3
-v- Williamstown993364233.27 3.2
-v- Yarraville43172634.20 2.3
Totals126763062611

Thirds Grade – 1952 to 1994

playedwonlostdrawnhighestlowest
-v- Berwick4429.21 12.19
-v- Brighton2120135.17 6.10
-v- Brunswick41241742.24 3.2
-v- Camberwell60402035.26 4.11
-v- Caulfield2419538.25 6.5
-v- Coburg331120231.17 1.9
-v- Dandenong2114722.24 6.4
-v- Frankston44232139.30 1.10
-v- Geelong West1411347.27 7.10
-v- Kilsyth5523.17 15.13
-v- Moorabbin25111428.15 2.2
-v- Mordialloc503613151.23 2.6
-v- Northcote54292530.24 2.2
-v- Oakleigh46262033.16 2.3
-v- Port Melbourne2720743.29 1.5
-v- Prahran3225741.17 4.14
-v- Preston34122228.28 2.4
-v- Sandringham2921828.23 5.11
-v- Springvale2012831.20 4.5
-v- Sunshine49202928.24 0.1
-v- Waverley3062423.26 2.8
-v- Werribee53272627.16 2.5
-v- Williamstown37142326.10 3.6
-v- Yarraville38251351.22 3.7
Totals7914553333

VFA / VFL season by season record – 1951 to 2019

Senior Grade – 1951 to 2019

YearCompetitionPlayedWonLostDrawnPoints
For
Points
Against
Ladder
Position
Position
After Finals
1951VFA201911122234014/14
1952VFA202181228185613/14
1953VFA207131371170310/14
1954VFA20911158214598/14
1955VFA201010144915597/14
1956*VFA22157152812514/14Third
1957VFA20119165415067/14
1958*VFA19136155211673/16Fourth
1959VFA208121590162310/16
1960VFA18991381143010/17
1961VFA Division One2231811454227610/10
1962*VFA Division Two1798130913294/8Fourth
1963VFA Division Two16961110310785/9
1964VFA Division Two18414126314878/8
1965VFA Division Two16682120414346/9
1966VFA Division Two18972170114655/10
1967VFA Division Two18612157718058/10
1968VFA Division Two173141214161110/10
1969*VFA Division Two19910172020434/10Fourth
1970*VFA Division Two211461232320943/10Runners Up
1971VFA Division Two18810200218455/10
1972VFA Division Two18612197920997/10
1973VFA Division Two18181475256810/10
1974VFA Division Two18414146021909/10
1975VFA Division Two181171578222910/10
1976VFA Division Two18612183523929/10
1977VFA Division Two18181450288910/10
1978VFA Division Two1811611638260610/10
1979VFA Division Two18315167327109/10
1980VFA Division Two181171535262310/10
1981VFA Division Two18216156827779/10
1982VFA Division Two18108204321285/10
1983VFA Division Two181161245716955/12
1984*VFA Division Two18162297415791/11Premiers
1985VFA Division One1831411616256611/12
1986*VFA Division Two20173274214492/12Premiers
1987VFA Division One184131167219689/10
1988VFA Division One18810161620117/10
1989*VFA221651284320613/14Third
1990VFA18810227321499/14
1991*VFA22148249121783/12Third
1992*VFA20119202216915/12Fourth
1993VFA18108185218806/12
1994*VFA22157248018072/12Runners Up
1995VFA1688128814796/9
1996VFL186121355178410/11
1997VFL185121132415219/11
1998VFL18513140417469/11
1999VFL186111163618218/11
2000*VFL20137199617967/18Seventh
2001*VFL23185249817162/16Premiers
2002*VFL211281229618215/16Seventh
2003*VFL22166209517373/13Runners Up
2004*VFL21129186918187/13Fourth
2005*VFL19712154017778/13Eighth
2006VFL186121609210810/13
2007VFL1841311362187512/13
2008VFL206141757205111/14
2009*VFL20137189917895/13Sixth
2010*VFL21138194718055/14Fourth
2011*VFL19712154817458/13Eighth
2012*VFL201010183316647/13Sixth
2013*VFL21165214415522/14Premiers
2014*VFL211551214515504/16Runners Up
2015*VFL21165207214661/16Runners Up
2016VFL187111450144010/15
2017*VFL201451195216182/14Fourth
2018*VFL22166198315866/15Premiers
2019*VFL19991145313498/15Eighth
TOTALS132159171020121092127225

* Denotes Finals appearance
Reserve Grade – 1951 to 2017

YearCompetitionPlayedWonLostDrawnPoints
For
Points
Against
Ladder
Position
Position
After Finals
1951VFA205151198186912/14
1952VFA2031611093160213/14
1953VFA201010161216327/14
1954VFA2041421305151111/14
1955VFA207131448183510/14
1956*VFA23167155913352/14Runners Up
1957VFA20146159814035/14
1958*VFA20155194410363/16Third
1959VFA20146188011775/16
1960*VFA20146193112964/17Fourth
1961VFA Division One21813176617517/10
1962VFA Division Two16610129911615/8
1963VFA Division Two1688125211465/9
1964VFA Division Two18810134913915/8
1965VFA Division Two16313116319047/9
1966VFA Division Two18612128816837/10
1967VFA Division Two18414144918279/10
1968VFA Division Two17314115119369/10
1969VFA Division Two18414145519959/10
1970*VFA Division Two191171180214904/10Fourth
1971*VFA Division Two211461246919092/10Runners Up
1972VFA Division Two18612166020167/10
1973VFA Division Two182161090339710/10
1974VFA Division Two185121132021138/10
1975VFA Division Two182161410216310/10
1976VFA Division Two18315154324099/10
1977VFA Division Two18612159721809/10
1978VFA Division Two18711193822097/10
1979VFA Division Two182161683288010/10
1980VFA Division Two182161357217910/10
1981VFA Division Two18513141022678/10
1982VFA Division Two18810168220446/10
1983VFA Division Two18126235515646/12
1984*VFA Division Two19154301715352/11Runners Up
1985VFA Division One185131493216110/12
1986*VFA Division Two20155253513044/12Third
1987VFA Division One18108228218055/10
1988VFA Division One18513167419599/10
1989*VFA20137272416584/14Fifth
1990VFA1899215020959/14
1991VFA19811200820427/12
1992*VFA19127241017714/12Fifth
1993*VFA21165238716973/12Runners Up
1994*VFA20137227818613/12Fourth
1995*VFA20128181814995/9Runners Up
1996*VFL18810143415495/9Fourth
1997VFL18810157813357/10
1998VFL18711141615678/10
1999*VFL19109179014936/10Fourth
2000*VFL20155227514102/10Third
2001*VFL181161175912433/10Fifth
2002*VFL20128198414934/9Fourth
2003VFL18612169617158/10
2004VFL18891150713987/10
2005*VFL19991187316515/11Fifth
2006*VFL22148222019754/11Premiers
2007*VFL191081194817895/11Fifth
2008*VFL20128215317653/11Runners Up
2009*VFL20173226512321/11Premiers
2010*VFL20164214612812/10Premiers
2011*VFL20182227012801/10Premiers
2012*AFL Victoria Development League21129193515803/10Runners Up
2013*AFL Victoria Development League201361181916752/10Runners Up
2014*AFL Victoria Development League19136216512062/9Runners Up
2015*AFL Victoria Development League1817120179151/9Runners Up
2016*AFL Victoria Development League18153211410371/9Premiers
2017*AFL Victoria Development League1798150412883/8Fourth
TOTALS126763062611119700113574

* Denotes Finals appearance
Thirds Grade – 1952 to 1994

YearCompetitionPlayedWonLostDrawnPoints
For
Points
Against
Ladder
Position
Position
After Finals
1952VFA175121075126911/14
1953VFA1711611987366/14
1954VFA17115112588755/14
1955*VFA1914512467983/14Third
1956VFA17898688578/14
1957VFA17611105110539/14
1958VFA159610978536/16
1959VFA1798160010098/16
1960*VFA1715220406581/17Runners Up
1961*VFA Division One2016415049131/10Runners Up
1962VFA Division Two1578101910505/8
1963*VFA Division Two18143115208522/9Runners Up
1964*VFA Division Two1913615289173/8Fourth
1965VFA Division Two1631390012598/9
1966VFA Division Two18711109612777/10
1967VFA Division Two18810112712125/10
1968*VFA Division Two1917215439642/10Premiers
1969VFA Division Two1841490719688/10
1970VFA Division Two18117147711985/10
1971*VFA Division Two21165199814581/10Runners Up
1972VFA Division Two1899170026786/10
1973VFA Division Two18108202918735/10
1974VFA Division Two18414148421548/10
1975*VFA Division Two21156263216654/10Runners Up
1976*VFA Division Two2020308413411/10Premiers
1977VFA Division Two18117195515815/10
1978VFA Division Two18513158118138/10
1979VFA Division Two18181019292210/10
1980VFA Division Two18513114425429/10
1981VFA Division Two18810198417447/10
1982*VFA Division Two19118228219854/10Fourth
1983*VFA Division Two20155271514104/12Third
1984VFA17107197919289/23
1985VFA198111582201814/22
1986*VFA Division Two20164256111453/12Third
1987VFA Division One18711187516698/10
1988*VFA Division One19127210313043/10Fourth
1989*VFA201451249714481/15Third
1990*VFA21156253516823/14Third
1991*VFA22193251914351/12Runners Up
1992*VFA19118228414595/12Fifth
1993*VFA20137248316122/12Fourth
1994*VFA19136229918265/12Fifth
TOTALS79145533337437861410

* Denotes Finals appearance

VFA / VFL Player Records – 1951 to 2019

Career Totals of 100 Senior VFA / VFL Games

playergames playedyears played
Jack Wright1801951 to 1960
Keith White1711956 to 1967
Ian Bates1651959 to 1969
John Baker1551966 to 1976
David Mirra155*2010 to 2019
Victor Lawther1531974 to 1983
Keith Ralph Jnr1491966 to 1975; 1977 to 1980
Geoff Bryant1471964 to 1968; 1972 to 1976
Bruce Craig1461956 to 1963
Peter Nicholson1421983 to 1990
David Banfield1371988 to 1997
Ron Irvine1341952 to 1958
Laurie Zarafa1321989 to 1995
Geoff Withers1301978 to 1986
Doug Gleeson1271982 to 1990
Cliff Eade1251953; 1955 to 1961
Tony Brown1251984 to 1993
Colin Love1241952 to 1958
Bob Green1161951 to 1957
David Plunkett1151956 to 1961; 1963 to 1965
Alan Dickinson1151978 to 1984
Don Brown1131955 to 1960
Jarrod O'Neill1081989 to 1994; 1996; 1998
Cameron Crowley1061992 to 1999
Sam Gibson1032006 to 2011
Matthew Ball1022001 to 2007
Neil Gray1011960 to 1967
Mark Connolly1011975; 1977 to 1985
Darron Wilkinson1011993 to 1999

* Games total to end of 2019 season – played for Box Hill Hawks in season 2019.
Career Totals of 100 Senior VFA / VFL Goals
playergoalsgamesyears played
Paul Bolton340991983 to 1990
Darron Wilkinson2871011993 to 1999
Peter Nicholson2791421983 to 1990
John Salvado236821958 to 1964
Geoff Withers2051301978 to 1986
Geoff Bryant1941471964 to 1968; 1972 to 1976
Don Brown1821131955 to 1960
Laurie Zarafa1751321989 to 1995
Ian Bates1531651959 to 1969
Ted Laskie136651974 to 1978
Sam Grimley128692011 to 2015
Dale Carroll123211984 to 1985
Gary Smith122611969 to 1972
Greg Barnett118841966 to 1975
Alan Dickinson1181151978 to 1984
Dale Garth116851983 to 1988
Cameron Crowley1161061992 to 1999
Keith White1141711956 to 1967
David Buttifant113781989 to 1993
Les Thompson112661969 to 1972
Mark Kainey102491981 to 1987
Bill Morris101581952 to 1954
Colin Cruse101841979 to 1984

Executive officers, coach, captain, club champion and leading goalkicker – 1951 to 2019

* General Manager from 1981

Box Hill players drafted to AFL

PlayerDraftDrafted ByPlayed WithTotal
AFL Games
Andy Goodwin1987 NationalRichmondRichmond
Melbourne
73
Peter Bourke1988 NationalEssendonEssendon
Fitzroy
23
Grant Lawrie1989 NationalSt KildaFitzroy
St Kilda
168
Ron De Iulio1991 NationalCarltonCarlton104
Tim Livingstone1992 Mid-YearRichmondRichmond8
Jarrod Molloy1993 NationalFitzroy
Fitzroy
Brisbane
Collingwood
169
Andrew Nichol1995 Pre-SeasonFootscrayFootscray3
Matthew Bishop1997 RookieMelbourneMelbourne
Port Adelaide
150
Troy Simmonds1999 Pre-SeasonMelbourneMelbourne
Fremantle
Richmond
197
Simon Godfrey1999 NationalMelbourneMelbourne105
Sam Mitchell2001 NationalHawthornHawthorn
West Coast Eagles
329
John Baird2002 RookieKangaroosKangaroos46
Michael Firrito2003 RookieKangaroosKangaroos275
Matthew Ball2003 NationalHawthornHawthorn17
Stephen Kenna2003 NationalCarltonCarlton5
Laurence Angwin2003 RookieCarltonCarlton4
Michael Rix2004 RookieHawthornSt Kilda29
Simon Taylor2004 NationalHawthornHawthorn85
Cameron Howat2005 RookieRichmondRichmond21
Ben McGlynn2005 RookieHawthornHawthorn
Sydney
171
Lukas Markovic2009 NationalWestern BulldogsWestern Bulldogs29
Sam Iles2009 RookieGold Coast SunsCollingwood
Gold Coast Suns
33
Ed Curnow2010 RookieCarltonCarlton165*
Cameron Pedersen2010 RookieNorth MelbourneNorth Melbourne
Melbourne
80
Robert Campbell2010 RookieMelbourneHawthorn116
Jarrad Boumann2011 NationalHawthornHawthorn2
Sam Gibson2011 RookieNorth MelbourneNorth Melbourne
Adelaide
135
Adam Pattison2011 RookieHawthornRichmond
St Kilda
66
Matt Jones2012 DraftMelbourneMelbourne61
Sam Collins2015 AFL draftFremantleFremantle
Gold Coast Suns
23*
Sam Switkowski2017 AFL draftFremantleFremantle20*
David Mirra2017 rookie draftHawthornHawthorn11*

* Indicates AFL listed player in 2019.
All games totals to end of 2019 season.
The above list contains players who have played at least 1 AFL game or are currently on an AFL list and yet to play an AFL game.
The following players were drafted from Box Hill but did not play an AFL game: Ashley Byrne ; Paul Mullarvey ; Matthew Penny ; Michael Georgiadis ; Clinton Alleway ; Doug Scott ; Kristan Height.

"Greatest Ever Team"

BackJack Wright
David Banfield
John Baker
Half-BackCliff Eade
Bruce Craig
Ron Irvine
CentreKeith White
Geoff Bryant
Alex Gardiner
Half ForwardPeter Nicholson
David Plunkett
Ian Bates
ForwardDon Brown
Paul Bolton
Darron Wilkinson
FollowersBill Morris
Tim Livingstone
Laurie Zarafa
InterchangePeter Bourke
Doug Gleeson
Mark Lisle
Colin Love
--
CaptainAlex Gardiner
--
Vice-CaptainBill Morris
--
CoachEric Moore
--

"Box Hill Hawks All Stars"

BackTaylor DuryeaLukas MarkovicMichael Firrito
Half-BackKyle CheneyDavid MirraMatthew Brewer
CentreSam IlesSam MitchellEd Curnow
Half ForwardSam GibsonClinton AllewayBrendan Whitecross
ForwardStephen KennaCameron PedersenMichael Osborne
FollowersRobert CampbellJosh KennedyBen McGlynn
InterchangeMatthew BallKristan HeightAndrew Moore
Brad SewellMitch O'Donnell -
CaptainDavid Mirra
--
CoachDamian Carroll
--

Box Hill Hawks Football Club in popular culture

The club song is identical to the Hawthorn Football Club song, except that "Box Hill" is substituted for "Hawthorn", and is sung to the tune of the Yankee Doodle Dandy.

Jumpers

1936 to 1974

Brown jumper with a gold vee and small white horse emblem on left hand breast. The white horse emblem was added prior to the 1938 season, coinciding with the club's move from Surrey Park to Box Hill City Oval.
1975 to 2011

Prior to the 1975 season, the VFA encouraged a number of its member Clubs to adopt a more colourful playing uniform to coincide with the introduction of colour television to Australia. Box Hill adopted its iconic and most widely recognised jumper, consisting of gold and brown vertical thirds, with a brown back, gold numbers, and a large white "Wild Mustang" logo in the centre of the front of the jumper.
2012 to present

Box Hill adopted the identical jumper to its AFL affiliate Hawthorn, the only difference being that the white "Wild Mustang" logo was retained, located in the centre of the front of the jumper and approximately half the size that it was previously.