Hawks take points over Blues

Hawthorn   127 defeated Carlton   103

Hawthorn have defeated a lowly Carlton side by 24 points at the MCG on Saturday Afternoon.

Hawthorn set up their victory in a tight third term booting three goals to two through two majors from Mark Williams and a goal from Trent Croad.

The Hawks were dealt an early blow with both Shane Crawford and Michael Osborne pulling out during the pre-game warm up, they were replaced by speedster Harry Miller and on-baller Nick Ries. Adrian Deluca was a late withdrawl for the Blues with Callum Chambers his replacement.

For the Hawks Luke Hodge was influential in the midfield racking up 34 disposals. Danny Jacobs was superb across the back line racking up 31 disposals and 13 marks. Coleman medal leader Williams was back in form booting five goals in his 50th AFL game.

For the Blues Nick Stevens stood up in the midfield all day collecting 26 possessions. New-look Brendan Fevola was a shining light up forward bagging four goals.

On an overcast Saturday afternoon at the MCG the Blues came out firing booting the first goal of the match through Jarrad Waite. The Hawks replied with a major from Rick Ladson. Troy Longmuir and Mark Williams then exchanged goals for their respective teams.

The Hawks kicked the next two of the quarter through Lance Franklin and Peter Everitt. Eddie Betts answered for the Blues with two of his own trademark crumbing goals along with a major from Brad Fisher. Williams then booted a classy goal for the Hawks to give the Hawks a one-point lead at quarter time.

Carlton started the second term well bagging the first goal through Stevens. Everitt then replied for the Hawks with his second major of the afternoon. Waite and Betts kicked the next two goals for the Blues to stretch their lead out to 12 points.

The Hawks weren’t done with yet as they piled on the next 6 goals of the quarter in nine minutes to stretch their lead out to 19 points, through two majors from Nathan Lonie, and singles from Miller, Croad, Everitt and Simon Taylor.

Fevola booted his first to steady the ship for the Blues. Joel Smith then goaled for the Hawks to take the margin out to 19 points. Fevola kicked his second for the afternoon in the shadows of the main break through a rare, Luke Hodge skill error, and at half time the Blues trailed by 13 points.

In a low-scoring third quarter it was the Hawks who opened the scoring with Croad kicking his second for the afternoon. Both sides battled to gain ascendancy until Coleman medal leader Williams kicked his third to bring the margin out to 23 points.

The Blues were failing to assert any scoreboard pressure until Stevens provided the spark booting a goal for Carlton to cut the deficit back to 15 points. Fevola then kicked his third to give the Blues a sniff.

Williams then bobbed up answering with his fourth of the afternoon to give the Hawks a 15 point lead going into the last quarter.

The start of the final stanza was full of missed opportunities for the Hawks and the Blues alike kicking six behinds between them. Matthew Lappin then bobbed up for the Blues kicking a much-need goal to cut the margin but to 10 points. The Hawks replied in the best possible way kicking the next two goals through Franklin and Tim Clarke.

The blues would not go away and gave themselves a sniff with the next two majors through Fevola and Fisher. The Hawks then put the nail in the coffin with two late goals through Jordan Lewis and Williams to give the Hawks a hard fought 24 point victory.

Next week sees the Hawks travel west to take on the might of the West Coast Eagles at Subiaco on Saturday afternoon, whilst the Blues go head to head with the Tigers at Telstra dome on Sunday afternoon.

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