Australian Football

Match Report

Hawthorn has claimed top spot on the ladder and Carlton are clinging to a place in the top eight after the Hawks pipped a valiant Blues outfit by 15 points at Docklands on Friday night. For the second Friday night running Carlton looked to have more than matched it with a top four side, only to fade away in the last quarter and lose a close encounter. The Blues lost by five to Essendon the previous week after leading by as much as 31 points. They were not quite as dominant at any stage this week, but did lead by 17 points halfway through the third term and by four points early in the last quarter.

It was an unfortunate result for ex-Blue Chris Judd, who was playing a milestone AFL 250th match. The game was marred by an unfortunate accidental clash between the two skippers, Hawk Luke Hodge and Blue Marc Murphy, which left Murphy with a fractured cheekbone that will see him out of action for the next month.

The Hawks made the early running in the match, with goals to Jarryd Roughead and Lance Franklin in the first two minutes. When Jack Gunston kicked another at the eight-minute mark, Hawthorn blow-out loomed. But Carlton settled and kicked four of the next five goals to make the difference just two points at the first break. The match was a see-sawing affair from then on, with one side and then the other taking the ascendency. But it was the Hawks who had a little bit more composure when it mattered most in the last quarter, and they held on for a meritorious win.

Best player for the Hawks was Sam Mitchell, who had 24 possessions and kicked a goal. His team was black armbands as a mark of respect for his mother-in-law, who passed away last week. Jarryd Roughead and Lance Franklin (four goals each) were also excellent. For Carlton, Bryce Gibbs (28 possessions and a goal) was magnificent, as was Judd (29 disposals and a goal) and Brock McLean (34 touches).

Having won 10 matches in a row for the first time since 1975, the Hawks sit atop the AFL ladder, ahead of Geelong on percentage. Those two sides are a game clear of Essendon, who have played one extyra match. Hawthorn will return to Docklands this Friday night to take on the struggling West Coast Eagles. Carlton, who are inside the eight just ahead on percentage of the Eagles and Port Adelaide, both of whom have a game in hand, will have a bye in round 13 before heading to the SCG for a very tough encounter against Sydney.

GOALS
Carlton: Betts 3; Waite 2; Casboult, Robinson, Tuohy, Gibbs, Kreuzer, Judd, Rowe, Armfield
Hawthorn: Roughead, Franklin 4; Gunston 3; Hale, Mitchell, Hodge, Hill

BEST - SPORTAL.COM.AU
Carlton: Gibbs, Judd, McLean, Betts, Simpson, Kreuzer
Hawthorn: Mitchell, Franklin, Roughead, Gunston, Lake, Gibson

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
Carlton: Gibbs, McLean, Judd, Simpson, Kreuzer, Waite, Robinson, Tuohy
Hawthorn: Mitchell, Roughead, Birchall, Hodge, Gunston, Franklin, Lake, Stratton

COACHES' COMMENTS
Mick Malthouse (Carl): I couldn't fault the effort. Murphy's a class player- we lost him. I didn't think our entrance into our forward line was capitalised on. When you've got a bloke like Franklin (and Roughead) at one end, they tend to show you that that's what you've got to do.

Alastair Clarkson (Haw): They played well, the Blues. It's the second week in a row that they were probably in control of the game and didn't get the points. You never as a coach like games to pan out the way that one did, in a sense, but it's really pleasing that we found a way to grind the game out, and get ourselves in front on the scoreboard when we were well beaten in the clearances.

INJURIES
Carlton: Andrew Carrazzo (calf) replaced in selected side by Sam Rowe; Marc Murphy (fractured cheekbone)
Hawthorn: Nil

SUBSTITUTES
Carlton: Kane Lucas replaced Marc Murphy in the second quarter
Hawthorn: Jonathan Simpkin replaced Max Bailey in the third quarter

UMPIRES: Stevic, Nicholls, Chamberlain