Carlton defeats Hawthorn for the first time since 2005, ends Hawks’ finals hope
THE last time Carlton beat Hawthorn before tonight, Ben Cousins won the Brownlow Medal, Fraser Gehrig claimed the Coleman Medal and Brett Deledio was the Rising Star.
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IN 2005, Ben Cousins won the Brownlow Medal, Fraser Gehrig claimed the Coleman Medal and Brett Deledio was awarded the Rising Star in his debut season.
It was also the last year that Carlton had saluted over Hawthorn — until tonight.
In a coming of age for the team commonly referred to as the ‘Baby Blues’ this season, Carlton not only snapped an eight-game losing streak this year but ended a 14-game losing run against the Hawks which dated back to Round 6, 2005.
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A fighting seven-point win at Etihad Stadium was even more reason to celebrate for a strong home crowd, who had already started the night in style by honouring the club’s premiership heroes of 1987.
While not playing the experienced Hawthorn side we have come to know over recent years, Carlton still gave away an average of 23 games of experience in every position on the ground.
Half the Blues side had less than 50 games of experience, but what they lacked in that area they brought in heart.
Still a mathematical chance of playing finals entering the game, the Hawks had plenty to play for but it was the Blues that were the more hungry side at the contest for much of the night.
Carlton’s desperation was aptly summed up by a Liam Jones’ spoil in the final term.
Jones gave his all running back with the flight of the ball before getting a timely fist on the footy and putting it out of bounds.
It saved what looked set to be a certain Luke Bruest goal, just as the Hawks dared to run over the top of their opponents who had lead for almost all of the night after a blistering four-goal-to-one opening term.
The Blues’ quarterback all season, Sam Docherty had another stellar game, finding 31 disposals off halfback.
He was again the general in a defence that found itself under siege but refused to give in, particularly in the final term when Hawthorn entered 16 times but Carlton conceded just two goals.
Ben McEvoy and Matthew Kruezer fought one of the great ruck battles and both had impact around the ground, neither decisively taking the points in the end.
There were any number of other positives for the Blues, the performances of Jarrod Pickett (9 games), Jed Lamb (47 games), Charlie Curnow (26 games) and Blaine Bokehorst (23 games) just a few.
Midfielder Tom Mitchell again racked up plenty of the footy for the Hawks with 44 disposals, but it was the sight of Jaeger O’Meara back on the field which would have brought the most joy for Hawthorn supporters.
After a slow start, O’Meara — who has played five of a possible 65 AFL games since 2015 — finished with 17 disposals, his tempo slightly off the pace but his footy smarts clear to see.
But this was Carlton’s night, one which might just be a turning point in coach Brendon Bolton’s tenure at the club.
Carlton coach Brendon Bolton said his young side showed great “maturity” in the final term as Hawthorn continued to press.
“It shows that those past losses, although tight, they’re learning from it,” Bolton said.
“I think two years ago Hawthorn won by 138 points against Carlton, last year 19 points and this year we win by seven. It’s been 12 years since Carlton have knocked Hawthorn over so it shows we’re headed in the right direction.”
Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson lamented a poor start and ill-discipline.
“We’re pretty disappointed with the way we played,” Clarkson said.
“We should have been six goals down at quarter-time.
“We weren’t, we fought our way back into it and then it was a real arm-wrestle.
“We didn’t quite get the game played on our terms.
“It was played on Carlton’s terms on the night.
“That’s the way they like to play.
“When Carlton win its always 12 goals to 10.
“That’s what the result was.”
Clarkson said defender James Sicily was “targeted” by Carlton’s Jed Lamb, resulting in him giving away seven free kicks on the night and his side had to learn to be better in such circumstances.
The Hawks now face a dead-rubber game against the Western Bulldogs on Friday night, where they will farewell former captain Luke Hodge.
“Hopefully we can finish off the season with a good strong performance against the Bulldogs and hopefully (it) will be the catalyst for some better performances from us next year,” Clarkson said.
MATCH FACTS
CARLTON 4.4 6.4 10.4 12.5 (77)
HAWTHORN 1.1 5.7 8.8 10.10 (70)
GOALS
Carlton: Casboult 2, Gibbs, Wright, Thomas, , Fisher, Lamb, Pickett
Hawthorn: Puopolo 2, Langford, Breust, McEvoy, Roughead, Burton, Duryea, Smith
BEST
Carlton: Docherty, Kreuzer, Lamb, Pickett, Jones, Boekhorst
Hawthorn: Mitchell, McEvoy, Gunston, Burton, Burgoyne, Smith
INJURIES
Carlton: TBC
Hawthorn: Liam Shiels (hip) replaced in the selected side by Conor Glass
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Stephens, Fleer, McInerney
Official crowd: 35,799 at Etihad Stadium
CHRIS CAVANAGH’S VOTES
3: Sam Docherty (Car)
2: Tom Mitchell (Haw)
1: Matthew Kruezer (Car)
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