Even the most ardent Box Hill Hawks fan would admit the Dolphins were the better team, leading by seven at quarter-time and nine at half-time, having had 30 inside 50s to 17.

After a quick start to the second half that saw Box Hill take the lead, the home team dominated the third term, booting seven goals and racing to a four-goal advantage, bringing the Frankston Park crowd to fever pitch. But in a quarter that lasted almost 37 minutes, two late Hawks goals would prove the difference.

When a team has had 19 more inside 50s in three quarters but leads by just 12 points, it is likely it has wasted chances, and so it would prove. The Hawks loaded their forward line with tall timber and kicked four of their five final quarter goals through contested marks.

The Dolphins rallied and closed within a goal, but the Hawks held on for a 12-point win,

Coach Simon Goosey was surprisingly upbeat after game, aware that the Dolphins are playing their best football since the Brett Lovett era, with much more improvement to come. They laid more than 100 tackles and had the Hawks rattled for most of the game, running the ball fearlessly through the middle, Russell Gabriel, Mark Baguley, Luke Potts, Ben Crowe, Shane Hockey, Mitch Bosward, Marc Westcott, Clint Proctor and Tommy Simpson all having a big impact.

The Dolphins face the Coburg Tigers in Craigieburn on Saturday, before returning to Frankston Park on August 8 to play the Carlton-aligned Bullants.

The Dolphins' development team went down to Box Hill, the reigning premiers, by more than 100 points.