This was again evident with strong performances at home on the weekend.

The under-9 Hawks faced Wollongong Lions and it was a close result.

Hawks co-president Steve Fitzgerald said the home team was right in the match until the final few minutes.

“They had a really great game,” he said.

“It was really competitive.”

And it was the same story for the under-11s who Fitzgerald said were beaten in the last few minutes of the game.

Fitzgerald said the under-13s, also up against the Lions, continued to showcase their development on the field.

After beating top of the table team Figtree a couple of weeks ago, he said their improvement each week had been great to watch.

Charlie Fitzgerald got the under-9 coach’s award and Liam Nyholm got the under-13 coach’s award.

With the season almost at an end, Fitzgerald said the Hawks had become better at the contested ball.

“They’ve got more confidence  and they’re contesting the ball a lot harder,” he said.

Fitzgerald said the teams were also linking up much better to work the ball down the field.

With two games left in the season, the Hawks will be on the road this weekend before returning to Welby Oval for the final game of the year.

This Sunday the under-11s will face the Northern Districts Tigers while the under-13s take on Port Kembla Eagles.