R13 2025 | Dev Squad at Hawthorn AFC

The bye had come and gone, and the JnrCorns were back in business.

What was on the line? A top two spot and a chance to make a real statement. After last week’s epic comeback win against AJAX, the boys were fired up and ready to take on a red-hot Hawthorn side that had been dominating opponents in recent weeks. This was our opportunity to put an end to that run and build on our own momentum.

The opening quarter was a genuine contest. With the wind working against us, every possession mattered. Hawthorn came out hard, knowing a top four finish was at stake. They landed the first blow with a goal following a quick clearance and a defensive lapse. But we responded with composure and stuck to our game plan — quick hands and fast ball movement to break through their defence. Michael Van Benten got things going with a composed finish, followed by Kavish Tailor who slotted one through with confidence. At quarter time we had taken a solid lead, 16 to 7.

Now with the wind at our backs, the instructions were clear — push the pace and make the most of our forward entries. And that we did. Blake Italiano returned to the side and made an immediate impact, kicking the first of his two goals, while Lachlan Lane nailed a beautiful finish after being swung into a deeper forward role. Our ball movement was flowing freely and the momentum was all ours. Asher Claney and Matt Haberfield kept driving us forward with composure, while Liam Leeden and Oliver Edmonds locked down in defence and shut out any Hawthorn threat. By half time, we had built a strong buffer, leading 45 to 15.

The third quarter saw us going against the wind again, but this time with a key adjustment — three handballs before any forward kick, to reduce the chance of turnovers. The boys adapted perfectly. Hawthorn had no answers for our link-up play. Van Benten continued his scoring spree, Blake added another, Atlas Yates joined in, and fan favourite Ben Tyrrell lit up the ground with a long goal from outside fifty for his first of the year. Our forward line was firing, and our lead had stretched to fifty points by the final break.

The final quarter was all about enjoyment and reward for effort. Players rotated through different positions and played with freedom. Van Benten finished with five for the day, Kavish ended up with four, while Jonty Chandler and Sam King kept running tirelessly along the wings. Vice captain Arush Jhunjhunwala led by example and capped off a brilliant team performance.

The song was sung loud and proud. Morale was high, but the focus quickly turned to next week — a massive clash against Masala Dandenong, where we have the chance to secure top spot with two rounds to spare. The stage is set.

Final Score: MHSOBFC Dev Squad 15.19-109 defeated by Hawthorn 4.5-29.

Goalkickers: M.Van Benten 5, K.Tailor 4, B.Italiano 2, A.Yates, B.Tyrrell, L.Lane, B.Clarke.

Best Players: Matthew Haberfield, Kavish Tailor, Ben Tyrrell, Michael Van benten, Asher Claney, Jonty Chandler.