Box Hill holds on to fifth spot by narrowest of margins

The Age

Monday August 31, 2009

By BRENT DIAMOND

SAM Iles, who was once on Collingwood's list, was the hero in a thrilling one-point win by the Box Hill Hawks, who withstood a gritty Casey Scorpions fightback to retain fifth position.Box Hill will play eighth-placed Geelong in an elimination final next week.The Northern Bullants snared the double chance after thumping Frankston by 84 points to jump past Port Melbourne to third position.It was a courageous comeback from the Scorpions �� who trailed by 25 points at the final change �� to boot five goals to one including a snap from Ben MacReadie that put them in front by three points at the 21-minute mark.But Iles, who kicked a winner on the siren against Coburg Tigers earlier in the season, snapped truly to seize back the lead with the Hawks holding on, 13.12 (90) to 14.5 (89) at Box Hill City Oval.��We go in [to the finals] with really good form and spirit,�� Hawks coach Brendon Bolton said. ��We've won five on the trot now so we've just got to win from here on in.��Mark Williams, on return from a knee injury, was pivotal to the Hawks' win with three goals from 15 disposals.Jordan Lisle had a break-out game with five goals, while Simon Taylor was influential in the ruck and stoppages with 12 hitouts and 16 disposals.Stuart Dew missed with hamstring soreness, but qualifies to play in next week's cut-throat final against the Cats.Scorpions coach Peter German appeared deflated after his team's fourth loss under a goal for the season.��We'd only have to win two of them and we'd be in the top four,�� German said.In a further blow to Casey, Pierce Liddle was reported for charging Ed Curnow.� Carlton's suspended trio �� Cameron Cloke, Jeff Garlett and Eddie Betts �� were restricted to half a game for the Northern Bullants in its win over Frankston in preparation for Carlton's elimination final against the Brisbane Lions.Blues development coach and Bullants coach David Teague said all three players, who were dropped for turning up late to a recovery session, played with a ��terrific�� attitude with Cloke kicking four goals and Garlett and Betts each snaring 12 disposals.��That [their attitude] was probably the most pleasing thing,�� Teague said. ��Obviously they came back [to the VFL] because they were late for training, but they're attitude before the game starting Friday night and the way they went about it was terrific.��Blues' beanpoles Robbie Warnock and Sam Jacobs also pressed for selection with 40 disposals between them.VFL FINALS DRAWFirst Elimination Final: Casey Scorpions v CollingwoodFirst Qualifying Final: Nth Ballarat v Port MelbourneSecond Elimination Final: Box Hill Hawks v GeelongSecond Qualifying Final: Williamstown v Nthn Bullants

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