Australian Football

Match Report

With the chance - albeit slim - to steal second place on the ladder and a home final, Hawthorn fielded close to a full-strength side in its final home and way hitout against Carlton in Saturday's twilight game at the MCG, and made short work of the Blues to record a 57-point win. In an ideal tune-up for the next month, the Hawks played four solid quarters against the Blues, winning each term to coast to victory. 

The Hawks got down to business early, with Jarryd Roughead goaling within the first four minutes. Andrejs Everitt, one of Carlton's few good stories to come out of 2015, replied for the Blues but powered through the rest of the first quarter, kicking the next four goals via Paul Puopolo, James Frawley, Roughead again and Jack Gunston to set up a comfortable lead of 25 points at the first break and the tone for the rest of the match.

Andrew Walker kicked the first of the second term to bring the Blues to within 19 points but Hawthorn answered with goals to Roughead and Frawley to lead by 29 points midway through the term. Carlton was very competitive for the remainder of the quarter, which was played on equal terms with each side kicking two goals. At the long break, the Hawks held sway by an even five goals.

Frawley, continuing his time in the forward line, opened the third term with a goal for Hawthorn but Kade Simpson responded for the Blues at the four-minute mark. The Hawks dominated the quarter thereafter, though, and majors to Gunston, Rough, Gunston again and James Sicily saw their lead blow out to 54 points as they turned for home.

Goals to Matthew Watson and Walker gave Blues' fans some early last-quarter joy but Hawthorn regained control after that, Jordan Lewis, Bradley Hill and Liam Shiels combining to kick three of the last four goals of the match as the Hawks rolled on to a 57-point win.

The ever-reliable Sam Mitchell was Hawthorn's best, with 34 possessions and six tackles, while Josh Gibson (11 marks, 25 touches) and Hill (27 disposals, five tackles) were also very good. For Carlton Andrew Carrazzo (33 touches in his final AFL match) and Ed Curnow (31 possessions) were excellent.

Hawthorn now moves into finals mode, with a Qualifying Final against West Coast at Subiaco its first challenge. A win will give the Hawks a week off and a home Preliminary Final, while a loss will see them take on the winner of the Western Bulldogs-Adelaide Elimination Final, with a possible trip back to Subiaco to take on Fremantle as a reward if they were to win.

For the Blues, the loss condemned them to the Wooden Spoon. The only way is up for new coach Brendon Bolton when  he takes the reins in the off-season.

GOALS
Hawthorn: Roughead, Gunston 4; Frawley 3; Puopolo, Birchall, Sicily, Lewis, Hill, Shiels
Carlton: Everitt, Watson, Walker 2; Simpson, Kreuzer

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Hawthorn: Mitchell, Gibson, Hill, Roughead, Lewis, Gunston
Carlton: Curnow, Cripps, Carrazzo, Tuohy, Tutt

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Hawthorn: Mitchell, Gibson, Hill, Roughead, Lewis, Suckling
Carlton: Carrazzo, Curnow, Cripps, Bell, Tuohy

INJURIES
Hawthorn: Smith (knee)
Carlton: Boekhorst (corked leg)

SUBSTITUTES
Hawthorn: Angus Litherland replaced Shaun Burgoyne at half time.
Carlton: Clem Smith replaced Blaine Boekhorst in the third quarter.

REPORTS: Kade Simpson (Carlton) reported for making high contact with David Hale (Hawthorn) in the third quarter.

UMPIRES: Stephens, Nicholls, Chamberlain

TELEVISION BROADCAST: Fox Footy

COMMENTATORS: Eddie McGuire, Dermott Brereton, Jonathan Brown, Cameron Mooney