For the second game in a row Carlton has put on an impressive display at the MCG as they cruised to a 60-point win over Hawthorn on Sunday afternoon.
Carlton were dominant from the start as their midfield mix of Patrick Cripps, Sam Walsh and Adam Cerra took control of the game despite Hawthorn’s dominance in the hit outs.
Charlie Curnow kicked the first goal of the match, but the Blues failed to make the most of their opportunities with both Jack Martin and Harry McKay missing simple shots in front of goal, a theme that has been common throughout Carlton’s 2023 season.
Carlton dominated possession to start the match as they had 58 disposals to 26 at the halfway mark of the first quarter, with goals to Jack Martin and David Cuningham indicating that the connection with the forward line was improving.
In his second game back from a series of injuries (six games in three years) Cuningham’s goal was a highlight of the first half as Blues players swarmed to him in celebration as he kicked a nice set shot goal.
The Hawks started the second quarter in better fashion as they were able to take more control of the football, but they failed to capitalise as the Blues soon regained control.
Jacob Weitering was reported for a strike on Hawthorn ruckman Lloyd Meek, however that didnt stop his return to form, collecting 17 touches and nine marks (three contested) for the match.
Charlie Curnow continued his pursuit for a second straight Coleman medal as he kicked three goals and was busy in the first half, although the 26-year-old was later tactically subbed out of the game in the fourth quarter.
Charlie is on target for goal number three 🎯 #AFLHawksBlues pic.twitter.com/qSJjoNdw6g
— AFL (@AFL) July 2, 2023
The Blues were dominant in the first half as they held Hawthorn goalless for the first two quarters, the first time Carlton have kept a side goalless to halftime since 2004, while for Hawthorn it was the first time since Round 14 2009 that they failed to kick a goal in the first half.
In his best season to date Adam Cerra continued his form as he kicked two goals and had 27 touches for the match.
While for the Hawks, in his first game back since Round 8 after being dropped, 19-year-old midfielder Josh Ward was very busy as he collected 28 touches and four clearances.
Five minutes into the third quarter and the Hawks were still goalless, and it wasn’t until an act of ingenuity from Chad Wingard who soccered the ball from the boundary into the goal square which led to a Mitch Lewis goal as the Hawks finally hit the scoreboard.
Wingard somehow keeps it alive and the Hawks are on the board! #AFLHawksBlues pic.twitter.com/lEwtaROlb7
— AFL (@AFL) July 2, 2023
This appeared to open the floodgates as a vocal Hawthorn crowd got behind their team as they kicked three consecutive goals to start the second half.
The young Hawks midfield of Ward, James Worpel (26 touches), Jai Newcombe (21) and Will Day (26) began to lift as the Hawks closed the gap in the disposal count.
As the Hawks continued to push and slowly break down the Carlton's nine goal lead, Blues fans would have been sweating over a potential capitulation but a strong contested mark in the goal square from recruit Blake Acres (22 touches) steadied the ship.
Former AFL coach Brenton Sanderson was impressed with how Sam Mitchell’s side came out after halftime, particularly with their defensive efforts.
“So much better. It’s just so much better now with their tackle method, their ability to run hard and help team defence is much improved in this third quarter,” Sanderson told SEN’s AFL Nation.
The Blues finished the game in strong fashion as the kicked six goals to two in the last quarter, but the match was long dead and buried as the Blues won their second consecutive match and importantly remained in touch with the top eight.
FULL SCORE
Hawthorn: 0.3, 0.5, 5.8, 7.10 (52)
Carlton: 3.4, 8.7, 11.10, 17.10 (112)
GOALS
Hawthorn: Breust 2, Greene 2, Lewis 2, Macdonald
Carlton: Martin 3, C. Curnow 3, Cunningham 2, Cerra 2, McKay 2, Owies, Docherty, Acres, Fogarty, Silvagni
BEST
Hawthorn: Worpel, Ward, Newcombe, Weddle, Meek, Greene
Carlton: Cerra, Cripps, Docherty, Martin, Weitering, McKay, Acres
Injuries
Hawthorn: N/A
Carlton: N/A