Hawks nest in the Bass Coast

By Aiden Box

SEVERAL local footy loving kids were able to improve their skills and make some awesome memories on the weekend as the Box Hill Hawks VFL and VFLW squads ran a clinic at the Wonthaggi Recreation Reserve last Saturday. 

In a partnership with the Bass Coast Shire Council (BCSC), the Hawks men and women’s teams made the trek down to the home of the Power and braved the chilly blustery conditions as they trained throughout the morning themselves, before refuelling and having a kick with the kids.

What made the day so special though, was seeing six locals in the Hawks colours, tearing up the training track and coaching the area’s youngsters, some on the very ground in which they began their careers. 

With Max Walton (Phillip Island) in the men’s squad and Sunday Brisbane (Phillip Island), Grace Matser (Korumburra), Grace McRae (Dalyston) and Macie Gilmour (Wonthaggi) in the women’s, the host region was well represented. 

Speaking to the media after their session, a few of the local girls spoke on what is means to them to return home, train and coach the young locals. 

“In the country footy and netball clubs are a big part of our communities, it’s pretty much where you grow up as a country kid, the footy club is your family,” McRae said. 

“It’s good too because I can just stay at mum and dads and I don’t have to wake up as early, it’s good to see the country community is getting exposed to more inner-city sports, because sometimes country and city are pretty separate and it’s good that it’s flowing out and getting to the grassroots of footy.

“When we were younger, we did basketball clinics and netball clinics but we never had footy clinics, so it’s great that there’s now a pathway for younger girls to actually come through and have a pathway and you actually know people, you know families and you’re helping them out.”

Walton also enjoyed the local session and the shorter travel time, coming from the Island. 

“It’s really nice being home, it was only a 35-minute drive for me, some of my teammates were travelling three hours so it was a bit of a swap around since I’m usually the one driving so it’s nice to have a camp down here, relax and show the boys the ropes,” Walton said. 

Hawks coaches Zane Littlejohn and Cherie O’Neill agreed with their players. 

“We all started there, all our players and coaches all started at community clubs like Wonthaggi Power so it’s nice to come back so to have local players on our list is really exciting,” Littlejohn said. 

“It’s a really good opportunity and with the kid’s clinic it’s a really good chance to interact with a bit of community and it’s a really good pathway for girls footy,” O’Neill said.

“Community I think is vital for the sport to keep going ahead and keep building and it’s going to grow the more kids that have a footy in their hands growing up the better the game will get as we go on.”

BCSC representatives Ali Wastie (CEO), deputy mayor Rochelle Halstead and mayor Michael Whelan were also in attendance. 

There really isn’t a measure on the value of inspiring and growing junior and youth sport, especially in country regions such as the Bass Coast and the Hawks are determined to continue the relationship with the area and already have plans to help it thrive. 

After hosting a previous junior footy clinic in Inverloch late last year, and backing it up with the weekend’s event, the Hawks will return in late April when they make Wonthaggi their home for the weekend once again. 

On Saturday April 30, during the VFL/VFLW season, Box Hill will host the Casey Demons in a blockbuster double header at the Wonthaggi Recreation Reserve, a ground that received much praise from the Hawks on Saturday, despite the recent rain. 

The Hawks and Demons matchup will surely be an exciting one, with the Casey men defending their 2022 premiership win against a Hawks squad who got a taste of finals a year ago, while the women’s match features two teams coming off a finals berth and shapes to be a huge day for the region. 

“We’re really young but we’ve got a lot of youth and speed, so I’m really excited for that and everyone’s really enthusiastic as well,” said McRae. 

“I’ll definitely be putting my hand up for that one, it’s really exciting to run out there (Wonthaggi) will be awesome, especially against Casey, so I’m looking forward to it,” Walton said. 

Fans can catch McRae and the local quartet in the women’s match from 11:30am, while Walton and the Hawks men will take the field from 2:05pm. 

For those itching to see more Hawks action at an earlier date, Box Hill’s VFL and VFLW seasons kick off on the weekend of March 25/26 as they look to begin pursuit of their season goals.