Hawk talks: Box Hill, Hawthorn poised to extend VFL alignment

The VFL’s most successful alignment is set to continue. And an assistant coach and another player may be making the move from the VFL to AFL Hawks.

On the rise: Vincent Adduci of Box Hill Hawks.

The VFL’s most enduring and successful alignment is set to continue into 2022 and beyond.

The Box Hill Hawks and Hawthorn are in talks about a long-term extension of their alliance, which expires at the end of October.

The clubs came together in 2000, when AFL reserves teams were absorbed into the state league.

The alignment has produced three premierships – 2001, 2013 and 2018 – and a string of players has gone from VFL Hawks to AFL Hawks, most notably Brownlow Medal champion Sam Mitchell.

Mitchell returned to Box Hill Hawks this year as senior coach and has since been appointed to replace Alastair Clarkson at Hawthorn.

Sam Mitchell at the Box Hill Hawks huddle this year.

Hawthorn this year also swooped on VFL Hawks Lachie Bramble and Jai Newcombe, with Bramble playing 10 AFL games.

A third player could also make the move, with Mitchell holding slippery small forward Vincent Adduci in high regard.

Adduci, 23, averaged 17.3 possessions from nine matches this season and kicked 13 goals, including five against Carlton in Round 6.

“He’s just so dynamic. He’d be a bloody nightmare to play on,’’ Hawks captain Damian Mascitti said of his teammate during the year.

“He’s quick, he’s agile, he’s got that sidestep and he’s got good finishing.’’

There’s also increasing speculation Andy Collins, who returned to Box Hill Hawks this year to assist Mitchell, could be on his way back to Hawthorn in a development role.

Collins played in three premierships and won a best and fairest at Hawthorn, and was senior coach of Box Hill Hawks in 2004-05.

Jai Newcombe on the burst for Box Hill Hawks.

Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett and Box Hill Hawks president Ed Sill have been in discussions about the alignment in the past week.

“There have been some really fruitful conversations. We’re working out the nitty and gritty of a contract extension,’’ Sill said.

“The relationship has been strong for 20 years and will continue to be strong.’’

The deal soon to expire had been for three years.

Sill said it was possible the new terms would run longer.

Sill’s club is also pursuing the redevelopment of Box Hill City Oval, whose facilities were “substandard’’.

“I think all parties recognise that and are committed to improving them,’’ he said.

“Council (City of Whitehorse) are incredibly supportive and we’re working with the various political parties to finalise the funding arrangements.

“All up it’s about $15 million.’’

The project involves the “complete rebuild’’ of the old grandstand on the wing, a much-loved building that Sill said was “unfortunately past its use-by date’’.

Sill has told the Hawks members that the club envisages the City Oval as a “welcoming, highly utilised facility, catering for its high-performance football and cricket programs for both female and male athletes and user groups and, crucially, greater accessibility for people of all abilities to enjoy.’’

The pavilion was built in 1937 and Whitehorse Council said this year it had “reached the

end of its asset usefulness’’.