sport
Box Hill Hawks Return to Renovated City Oval for 2026
The club gains a new playing surface and synthetic track just as the Hawthorn College of Sport prepares its first student cohort.
How we reported this
Box Hill City Oval reopened on May 16, 2026, with a new playing surface and synthetic exercise track ready for the Box Hill Hawks 2026 VFL and VFLW season.
Why the reopening matters for local clubs
The upgrade gives the Box Hill Hawks a dedicated home ground that aligns with the broader push to develop pathways through the newly launched Hawthorn College of Sport. Hawthorn Football Club and Box Hill Institute created the dual diploma in Sport and Leadership and Management, which includes routes to Deakin University degrees and access to upgraded local facilities.
School and college programs feeding the club pathway
Box Hill Senior Secondary College runs academy programs in AFL/AFLW alongside basketball and tennis, with training scheduled inside regular school hours. These academy offerings sit alongside the Hawthorn College of Sport, which will welcome its first cohort in February 2025 after expressions of interest open.
Evidence of investment in Box Hill facilities
The Hills Shire Council awarded a $19.6 million tender for a new sports complex at Water Lane Reserve that will add two AFL fields and athletics facilities. Construction is already underway, providing additional capacity that supports both the reopened oval and emerging student-athlete programs.
Local clubs and institutes continue to coordinate training and education options without set timelines for further announcements beyond the confirmed February 2025 start for the college cohort.