VFL 2019: Box Hill farewells half of its list as host of players return to the Eastern Football League

Box Hill will turn to its next wave of talent this season after farewelling half of the list that helped it win last year’s VFL premiership.

Chris Jones has joined South Croydon. Picture: James Ross/AAP

Box Hill will turn to its next wave of talent this season after farewelling half of the list that helped it win last year’s VFL premiership.

Fifteen of the 33-listed Hawks from last year have departed the state league club, leaving it to appoint a new leadership group for 2019.

Captain Andrew Moore is the only member from last year’s leadership group remaining at Box Hill City Oval.

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The premiership trio of Anthony Brolic (Rowville), Mitch O’Donnell (Norwood) and Chris Jones (South Croydon) will return to the Eastern Football League, while Max Warren and Nick Evans have also joined at the Bulldogs.

Former Essendon midfielder Will Hams has run pen over paper at VAFA club Old Xaverians and Billy Murphy has relocated to Queensland.

Hams also played in the grand final win over Casey Demons, while Warren, Evans and Murphy have been important players for Box Hill in recent years.

The coaching staff at Box Hill has also been turned over for this coming season.

Hawthorn premiership player Max Bailey has taken over from Chris Newman, who assumes an assistant coaching position under Alastair Clarkson at Hawthorn.

Of the additions, Damian Mascitti has crossed from rival Port Melbourne, WAFL star Luke Meadows has relocated east and former Western Bulldogs rookie Nathan Mullenger-McHugh will push for an AFL lifeline after joining the Hawks.

Former Western Bulldogs rookie Nathan Mullenger-McHugh has joined Box Hill. Picture: Andy Brownbill

Mascitti played in the Borough’s 2017 flag win and is a two-time VFL team of the year member.

Meadows has crossed from Western Australia, where he established himself as one of the state league’s best players.

The 24-year-old played 90 games with West Perth and enjoyed a dominant season last year, averaging 25 disposals and five tackles in 22 matches to finish top-10 in the Sandover Medal.

The versatile Mullenger-McHugh was taken as a rookie in 2016 by the Western Bulldogs but did not play a senior game, playing 37 games with Footscray.

Max Bailey in an appearance for Box Hill during his playing days.

Mason Dewit (Frankston), Connor Byrne (Coburg) and Aaron Cotte (Bayswater) have also signed at Box Hill.

Bailey said the Hawks’ emerging players — Tom Moloney, Nelson Lane, Lachlan Walker, Vince Adduci, Nathan Boucher and Liam Mackie — would be presented with more opportunities this year.

“All those guys have been with us for a bit and we’re really hopeful they’ll take the next step,” Bailey said.

“I think it’s the nature of the VFL environment but it seems to be a heap of changes this year for us.”

Box Hill expects to finalise its list this week.

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