Box arrived at Footscray from Cheltenham, where he won the 1950 Federal Football League best and fairest award[2] and made his VFL debut in 1951.[3]
He missed the entire 1952 season through injury after the motor cycle he was riding was hit by a motorist and he suffered critical head and leg injuries.[4][5]
Box returned and played his best football from 1953 onwards. Although he was used mainly as a centreman, Box played at centre half-forward in Footscray's 1954 premiership side. By winning the Brownlow Medal in 1956 Box became the only Footscray premiership player to win the medal. The previous year he won his club's Best and Fairest award.