Carlton condemn Hawthorn to unwanted 96-year first in thrashing

The Hawks have been condemned to one of their worst first halves in 96 years as they struggled to hit the scoreboard once again.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 02: Mitch Lewis of the Hawks looks dejected after a loss during the 2023 AFL Round 16 match between the Hawthorn Hawks and the Carlton Blues at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on July 2, 2023 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Hawthorn were held to their lowest ever halftime score against Carlton as the Blues careered to a thumping 60-point victory over the Hawks at the MCG on Sunday.

Michael Voss’ men piled on the first nine goals of the match, restricting the Hawks to just five behinds in the first half, which was also their lowest halftime tally since they could only muster 0.3 (3) against Port Adelaide six years ago.

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The bye didn’t put the brakes on Carlton’s new-found high-scoring capabilities either, backing up their 18-goal return against Gold Coast with another 17 majors in the comprehensive 17.10 (112) to 7.10 (52) win.

In fact, Carlton have kicked more goals in their last two games (35) than they did in their previous five matches combined (33).

The Blues also registered back-to-back scores of at least 100 for the first time since Round 10 last year, and recently they’ve looked every bit like the team that set the footy world alight in the first half of 2022.

Triple M stats guru @ethanmeldrum_ says this is just the second time Hawthorn has been goalless at half-time of a match at the MCG.

Only other time was round 17 in 1927, the Hawks' third season in the competition

— Marc McGowan 🗣✍️👨🏻‍💻📰 (@ByMarcMcGowan) July 2, 2023

HAW have been goalless in 4 of their last 5 quarters
First side to achieve the feat since WCE in 1989

#AFLHawksBlues@AFL

— Swamp (@sirswampthing) July 2, 2023

However, the result could come at a cost for Carlton with star defender Jacob Weitering reported for striking Lloyd Meek in the third quarter. Grainy vision appeared to show Weitering use a forceful elbow/forearm to the chest of the big Hawthorn ruckman a long way off the ball.

The Hawks couldn’t buy a goal in the first half. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Hawthorn seemed to head into the game with a clear advantage in the ruck as Ned Reeves and Meek went up against Carlton who were missing Marc Pittonet and Tom De Koning due to knee injuries.

The Blues had to make do with the makeshift tandem act of Jack Silvagni and Lewis Young, but despite comprehensively losing the hitout battle 62-36, Carlton finished on top in clearances 39-34 and inside 50s 54-48.

And while Reeves and Meek ensured hitout domination, they only combined for 12 disposals, whereas Silvagni (17) and Young (13) combined for 30 and had much more of an impact around the ground.

Voss would’ve been very pleased by the even contribution from his side as Adam Cerra (27 touches and two goals), Patrick Cripps (28, 15 contested possessions and eight clearances), Sam Docherty (26) and Blake Acres all had a big impact in the middle of the ground.

Carlton also had 10 individual goalkickers, led by Charlie Curnow (three) and Jack Martin (three), and Weitering was also influential down back.

BLUES BURST OUT OF THE BLOCKS

The Blues set up the win early on the back of their domination of contested possessions, which they led 47-30 at quarter-time, and territory as they almost doubled the Hawks for inside 50s in the opening term (16-9).

The Blues completely owned the ball as well in the first period with 51 more disposals (125-74), and by the 19-minute mark of the first quarter, nine Hawks were still yet to touch the footy. When Hawthorn did get their hands on the ball, they were often let down by poor ball use.

The Hawks were extremely disorganised in defence as Carlton players regularly found far too much space in their attacking zone, which resulted in the Blues tripling the Hawks for marks inside 50 by halftime (9-3). Carlton would finish up dominating that stat 20-8.

Carlton are back in form. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

POOR ENTRIES HURT HAWTHORN

And when the Hawks managed to get regular forward entries, not only was the quality of their disposal poor and misguided without a threatening focal target to kick to, but Fergus Greene missed three set shots before they finally kicked their first major five minutes into the third term.

Carlton’s speed and pressure totally overwhelmed the Hawks and perhaps the biggest indictment on Hawthorn’s first half was that the Blues had far more of the ball (218-150), yet also laid more tackles (43-33).

HAWK RESURGENCE SHORTLIVED

After Docherty made it nine goals in a row for the Blues, the Hawks finally sparked to life by booting the next three majors and actually outscored Carlton in the third quarter. But it was too little too late and the Blues reasserted their dominance by kicking six goals to two in the final term to seal the big win.

Originally published as Carlton condemn Hawthorn to unwanted 96-year first in thrashing