LOOKING to kick off their season in style, the Carlton Reserves fell just shy in their VFL season opener against a firing Box Hill at IKON Park.

In a tight contest, the Blues went down to the Hawks in Round 1 of their 2025 VFL season, with Box Hill prevailing in a 12.4 (76) to 11.14 (80) defeat.

It was a hot footy in the opening two minutes to open the 2025 campaign. A nice entry from Darcy Hogg was followed by a classy finish from Ashton Moir got the ball rolling for the Blues in their season opener.

Ollie Badr was quick to join the party, finishing a set shot off the back of a free kick to give the Blues an ideal start, and the first lead of the game.

Providing of glimpse of what could be to come, the recently appointed co-captains combined for another Carlton major, with a perfect delivery from Heath Ramshaw to his counterpart Liam McMahon.

Some smooth moving from Hogg resulted in his first of the day late in the quarter, keeping the pressure tight on the away team as the Hawks took a five-point lead into the first change.

With the siren concluding a tight first quarter tussle, Carlton defender Will Hayes was leading the Blues disposal count with eight.  

After a back and forth contest to start the second quarter, half-backs Jordan Boyd (11 disposals) and Logan Prout (nine disposals) linked up and provided some dash, putting their elite skills on display before the half-time break.

After a stellar start to the quarter, Prout was unfortunately forced off the ground with what appeared to be a knee injury.

With the backline holding strong to stem the flow, Hayes continued to find plenty of it with 16 disposals in a low-scoring quarter heading into the main break.

Looking to get off to hot start after goalless term, the Reserves came out firing. Skipper McMahon became the first Blue to kick multiple goals, with Badr following suit only a minute later to get back within a goal.

Ben Camporeale was injected into the game for his first run donning the Navy Blue, with healthy contributions from Heath Ramshaw (14 disposals) and Patrick Dozzi (15 disposals) heading into the final term.

Needing a big push in the last, it was key forward Harry Lemmey finishing a set shot from a tight angle to open his account.

The game could’ve easily got away for the Blues, when the Hawks kicked back-to-back goals to open up a game-high 32-point lead.

With some late game brilliance through the middle, youngster Billy Wilson hit up his skipper McMahon who jagged his third halfway through the last.

Soon after, Hogg became the third multiple goalkicker of the day, with a snapping finish on the run from 40 out closing in on Box Hill’s lead.

With some IQ from Luke Nelson to get out of trouble, Ashton Moir was able to get onto his second, bringing the Blues back to within 14 points at the 20-minute mark.

Showing plenty of late fight, Will White launched a set shot from 40 out to continue the late comeback, and when a free kick to Francis Evans set up McMahon for his fourth, a late game win was well and truly on the cards.

Despite kicking the last five in a rush, it wasn’t to be, as the siren sounded with Box Hill holding on in a nail-biter.

With the bye next week, The Carlton Reserves will resume their campaign in Round 3 on Saturday 5 April at 7:10pm against Southport at IKON Park. The game will be broadcast on Channel 7.

CARLTON RESERVES       4.1     4.3     6.4       12.4 (76)
BOX HILL                          4.6     6.8     9.11      11.14 (80)

GOALS
Carlton: McMahon 4, Badr 2, Hogg 2, Moir 2, Lemmey, White

BESTS
Carlton: Phillips, Hogg, Boyd, Vickery, Riley, Evans

Jaspar Wilson-Keir is a student at La Trobe University, undergoing his Bachelor of Media and Communications (Journalism and Marketing). He is currently undertaking an internship at the Carlton Football Club as part of its partnership with La Trobe University.

Photo credit: Tom McLachlan