Preview Box Hill Hawks 2025 season

[streetspirit]

I'll start a table with re-signings, additions and deletions for BHH 2025.

Re-signings	Additions	Deletions
Official Seb Amoroso Jake Arundell Tyler Brown Ben Cavarra Stu Horner Jett Latchford Nat Philactides Cal Porter Andreas Stefanakis Lane Ward In training photos on social media, not officially announced Heath Bidgood Billy Hicks Jye Peacock Daniel Wood	Official Jack Baldwin (Eastern) Trent Bianco (Pies AFL, Bulldogs VFL) Kye Declase (Werribee / Melbourne AFL etc) Ben McCormack (Central Districts, SANFL) Zac McGowan (Eastern) Corey Preston (Werribee / East Ringwood) Jack Sammartino (Banyule NFNL) Ethan Stanley (BHH/ Fremantle)	Callum Brown (Mansfield) Andrew Mathieson (Sandringham) James Parsons (Park Orchards) Ed Phillips (Retired) Josh Tovey (Coll’d VFL)

 

[caseman2]

Surprised to see that Ned Maginness has signed with Sandy.

Two Sandringham Dragons graduates are among the first signings for Sandringham Zebras.
Sandy have secured versatile tall Lachie Voss and hard-running midfielder Ned Maginness.
Playing as a 19-year-old, Voss had a VFL game with the Zebras this year and figured in the Dragons’ grand final win over the Greater Western Victoria Rebels. He was also part of their 2022 premiership.
Maginness, the son of Hawthorn premiership defender Scott, was also a 19-year-old Dragon this year, splitting his time in the Coates Talent League and with Old Scotch Under 19s. He also appeared in the Young Guns series.

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As an aside, I'm trying to keep track of all the VFL signings across the clubs and posting on the VFL board for those that are interested.

 

[caseman2]

I know the drafts haven't taken place yet but the following is what i have hard on the grapevine in terms of players we have been talking to / chasing - note this is all 3rd hand!

Cooper Vickery - Swans - was Hawthorn NGA eligible in his draft year
Charlie McCormack - Giants VFL - was in their academy previously and represented the Allies in 2022
Carter Michael - Brisbane - 3 years on their list and former academy member (connection with Littlejohn?)
Hewago Oea - Suns NGA who was on their list for what seems like forever - also won their 2's B&F this year
Ethan Stanley - Fremantle - Former Box Hill player

My wish list on the recruiting front noting the Hawks squad should be exceptionally strong next year so here's hoping for a good run with injury (will limit to 5 otherwise it is just being silly).

Lochie Gollant - Adelaide - Tall forward who you could slot in beside Scaife and Ramsden for support
Will Hamill - Adelaide - Can play as a rebounding defender or big inside mid offering great flexibility
Jack Bytel - Collingwood / St Kilda - Ball magnet at VFL level and covers the loss of Callum Brown
Jack Mahony - Gold Coast / Kangaroos - O'Sullivan and Bennetts are big loses and if not drafted, you would expect to head elsewhere so in need of a small forward to partner with the might ant Jakie Arundell
Cooper Hamilton - GWS - versatile mid size player, unbelievable clubman but more importantly, Box Hill socials will go through the roof!!

Carter Michael Signed with Williamstown
Jack Bytel signed with Coburg
Hewago Oea doing pre-season with the Suns


You would expect a lot of announcements over the next few weeks across all clubs

 

[streetspirit]

Andreas Stefanakis and Lane ward back in the saddle for 2025

 

[caseman2]

I know the drafts haven't taken place yet but the following is what i have hard on the grapevine in terms of players we have been talking to / chasing - note this is all 3rd hand!

Cooper Vickery - Swans - was Hawthorn NGA eligible in his draft year
Charlie McCormack - Giants VFL - was in their academy previously and represented the Allies in 2022
Carter Michael - Brisbane - 3 years on their list and former academy member (connection with Littlejohn?)
Hewago Oea - Suns NGA who was on their list for what seems like forever - also won their 2's B&F this year
Ethan Stanley - Fremantle - Former Box Hill player

My wish list on the recruiting front noting the Hawks squad should be exceptionally strong next year so here's hoping for a good run with injury (will limit to 5 otherwise it is just being silly).

Lochie Gollant - Adelaide - Tall forward who you could slot in beside Scaife and Ramsden for support
Will Hamill - Adelaide - Can play as a rebounding defender or big inside mid offering great flexibility
Jack Bytel - Collingwood / St Kilda - Ball magnet at VFL level and covers the loss of Callum Brown
Jack Mahony - Gold Coast / Kangaroos - O'Sullivan and Bennetts are big loses and if not drafted, you would expect to head elsewhere so in need of a small forward to partner with the might ant Jakie Arundell
Cooper Hamilton - GWS - versatile mid size player, unbelievable clubman but more importantly, Box Hill socials will go through the roof!!

Will Hamill - Frankston VFL
Cooper Hamilton - Carlton VFL


Also, Ethan Phillips - Carlton VFL and Josh Bennetts - Collingwood VFL


Starting to get a little concerned we haven't named any "Name" recruits. Plenty of clubs have been very active.

 

[caseman2]

Another out - Josh Tovey

 

[caseman2]

Whilst he didn't play a game for us, another out in James Parsons. Has committed full-time to Park Orchards


Meanwhile, ex-AFL Cat James Parsons is set to inject experience into the Sharks’ midfield and attack, committing full-time for the 2025 season.
Parsons played 35 games for Geelong from 2017 to ’19 before state league stints with the Box Hill Hawks and Carlton amid a torrid run with injury.

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/localfooty/efl/efnl-2025-exafl-cat-james-parsons-vfl-great-tom-wilson-sign-at-park-orchards/news-story/a19f742fbd30fc0f2a6b4ada03c1a563

 

[Roger Rogerson]

Whilst he didn't play a game for us, another out in James Parsons. Has committed full-time to Park Orchards


Meanwhile, ex-AFL Cat James Parsons is set to inject experience into the Sharks’ midfield and attack, committing full-time for the 2025 season.
Parsons played 35 games for Geelong from 2017 to ’19 before state league stints with the Box Hill Hawks and Carlton amid a torrid run with injury.

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/localfooty/efl/efnl-2025-exafl-cat-james-parsons-vfl-great-tom-wilson-sign-at-park-orchards/news-story/a19f742fbd30fc0f2a6b4ada03c1a563

Geez he can play at VFL level.

 

[houdinihuddo]

We just have to be patient waiting for announcements. Last week I was told in confidence we have signed the perfect replacement for Cal Brown. I cannot name him however he played over 20 AFL games and is a high possession player who is considered to be an elite ball user with a high footy IQ. No speculation please, I’ve probably revealed too much.

I’ve been told to expect an announcement in the next few days. We have been active with the good signings of Kye Declase and Ethan Stanley and remain active with a couple more potential signings.

 

[streetspirit]

Trent Bianco, ex-pies, signed up

 

[caseman2]

We just have to be patient waiting for announcements. Last week I was told in confidence we have signed the perfect replacement for Cal Brown. I cannot name him however he played over 20 AFL games and is a high possession player who is considered to be an elite ball user with a high footy IQ. No speculation please, I’ve probably revealed too much.

I’ve been told to expect an announcement in the next few days. We have been active with the good signings of Kye Declase and Ethan Stanley and remain active with a couple more potential signings.

HH - you have come good as always. The Bianco signing was worth the wait. He was unlucky not to play more games at the Pies and in my humble opinion should still be on an AFL list.
Will tear it up at for us at this level!

Looking forward to the next wave of announcements.

 

[caseman2]

Curtesy of Paul Amy:

Jack Baldwin, Box Hill Hawks

The Mitcham junior has earned a contract a few miles down Whitehorse Rd after playing 16 games for the Eastern Ranges as a dependable defender.

Trent Bianco, Box Hill Hawks

The former AFL Magpie won a VFL representative jumper and played 18 matches for Footscray in 2024, but he’s gone from west to east. Bianco averaged 18.8 possessions as a Bulldog, playing well in the early exchanges of the season as he aimed for the mid-season draft.

Kye Declase, Box Hill Hawks

One of the VFL’s best wingmen will pick up his career at Box Hill Hawks. Declase played for the VFL representative team against the SANFL in April but abruptly left Werribee after Round 10, seeing out the season with Hurstbridge in the Northern league.

Billy McCormack, Box Hill Hawks

The 199cm McCormack, who played at Frankston in 2022, is back in Melbourne after three seasons with Central District in the SANFL.

Zac McGowan, Box Hill Hawks

The midfielder/flanker joins the Hawks as a 19-year-old player attached to Eastern Ranges, where he showed promise this year but was restricted by injury.

Corey Preston, Box Hill Hawks

Preston saw out the 2024 season with East Ringwood’s grand final team, having started it at Werribee. He was a star in the Eastern league, kicking 27 goals and getting 10 mentions in the best from 15 outings. Preston also played 38 games for Williamstown across the 2022-23 seasons.


Ethan Stanley, Box Hill Hawks

The dashing Stanley returns to the City Oval after being delisted by Fremantle, which recruited him in the 2023 mid-season rookie draft. He played two AFL games as the sub and 22 matches for Peel Thunder in the WAFL.

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[houdinihuddo]

Corey Preston trained with the Hawks yesterday and showed some good signs with his mobility and penetrating kicking.

There’s a pending signing of an interstate state league player. Ed Phillips has retired. He has been a terrific player and clubman and will be missed.

OUTSIDE MIDFIELDER, SMALL FORWARD

#21​

Corey Preston​

Height: 181cm
Weight: 76kg
D.O.B: 18-12-2002
Leagues: Coates Talent League Boys
POSITION: Medium Utility
SNAPSHOT: "Arguably the most impressive 19th-year player out of Victoria, Preston uses the ball cleanly in all thirds of the ground and makes good decisions to get his teammates involved in the game."

Having earned a surprise draft combine invite in 2020 despite the absence of a regular NAB League season, Preston came back in 2021 and showed people exactly why he was given that opportunity with such limited exposure. Representing Vic Metro, Eastern Ranges and Footscray VFL in 2021, Preston has shown off his versatility and clean kicking skills at all levels of competition, proving capable of kicking goals up forward or being a damaging rebounder out of the backline.

STRENGTHS:

• Kicking
• Decision making
• Versatility
• Athleticism
• Positioning

IMPROVEMENTS:

• Contested game
• Consistency

Playing in plenty of different competitions over the course of 2021, Preston was one who stood up and showed he could handle the jump up between all of them, having played in the NAB League, VFL and at state representative level. Preston started the year as a small forward, before moving into the midfield and onto the wing, then finishing off the year playing as a defender where he surprisingly produced some of his best form.

The versatility that he displayed over the season is one of the traits that will most excite AFL clubs, improving week by week when taking on a new role. Consistency is something that Preston developed as the season went on and he started to play more and more in the backline, however, Preston did at times struggle for consistency up forward, especially with his scoreboard conversion where he seemed to be a confidence player. When running through the midfield, Preston can struggle with winning contested ball, looking more confident when playing as a receiver on the outside where he can utilise his positioning and ball use to really hurt his opposition.

Arguably Preston’s biggest strength is said ball use, and his decision making with ball in hand. Possessing a penetrative kick, he utilises his kicking skills fantastically well, often looking to take on aggressive kicks from the backline or midfield heading forward. His athleticism allows him to get free of opponents to buy him time to fully assess his options, or get out of congestion and make pick the right option ahead of the ball. With the ability to catch the eye and hurt the opposition, Preston is a player with just something about him.

DRAFT PROJECTION: Late/Rookie

SUMMARY:
Having proven unlucky not to be afforded the opportunity to prove his worth last year, Preston has come back in 2021 and justified the attention he received. He is rated highly internally by the Eastern Ranges and has the qualities to be an effective player in multiple roles at the next level. The extra year of experience has treated Preston well and as one of the better performed 2002-born players in Victoria, he stands a chance of tempting a club late in this year's intake.

 

[streetspirit]

Max Donahue has signed with us from the Gippy Power

 

[caseman2]

Max Donahue has signed with us from the Gippy Power

Being from Leongatha, wonder if Big Rough played a role??

 

[streetspirit]

Jack Sammartino from Banyule in the NFNL has signed with us

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From earlier in the year, he got named in the Hun as a NFNL surprise star. Has played for waratah in the NTFL also, but doesn't appear to have played VFL before.

Came across to the Bears from Northcote Park last season but only played the seven games. Has started 2024 on fire with a string of impressive performances, earning mentions in the best in each of the past three games and sitting sixth in Coaches’ MVP voting.

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/localfooty/nfl/we-name-the-surprises-at-every-northern-league-club-so-far-this-season/news-story/3e2d5c9cb61c041f5a2d16be88537d9b

 

[Rudi Gilham]

I wonder if he's any relation to the late Gary Sammartino who played with Box Hill back in the early 2000s?

 

[caseman2]

Another player departing -

Andrew Mathieson, Sandringham​

Wingman Mathieson was at GWS in 2023, at Box Hill Hawks in 2024 and next year he’ll be with the Zebras as he tries to building on his 16 VFL games.