HAWTHORN 5.3 9.5 14.7 17.11 (113) CARLTON 1.2 4.5 5.7 8.8 (56)
GOALS Hawthorn: Gunston 4, Roughead 4, Frawley 3, Hill, Birchall, Lewis, Sicily, Shiels, Puopolo. Carlton: Everitt 2, Walker 2, Watson 2, Simpson, Kreuzer.
BEST Hawthorn: Mitchell, Gibson, Hill, Roughead, Lewis, Suckling. Carlton: Carrazzo, Curnow, Cripps, Bell, Tuohy.
UMPIRES Chamberlain, Nicholls, Stephens.
Injuries: Hawthorn: I Smith (knee),C Rioli (illness) replaced in selected side by Litherland.
Reports: Carlton: K Simpson in second term for rough conduct on D Hale.
CROWD 33,182 at MCG.
Winning wasn't the only mission for Hawthorn against Carlton on Saturday. The Hawks, like every other finalist, wanted enough of a hit-out to stay in tune, without too many bumps and bruises.
The first and second goals were achieved without too much bother. The third objective was brought undone about the time wingman Isaac Smith limped off the ground nursing what appeared a medial ligament strain just after half-time.
Facing a qualifying final against West Coast on the wide expanses of Domain Stadium in Perth next week, that was probably the moment of most significance for the Hawks.
Yet such was the efficiency with which the Hawks did their stuff when it mattered, not to mention the calibre of a couple of names set to return next week in Rioli and Hodge, that Smith's absence, while a blow, need not be fatal.
Particularly not given the form shown by his fellow wingman Brad Hill who, for a second week in a row, racked up the touches. If this game was about applying the finishing touches for a finals preparation, the Hawks did it pretty well.
There was a taste of what looked set to come within three minutes, when a long bomb from James Frawley, again playing forward, saw Jarryd Roughead easily push off Michael Jamison, collect the ball and stroll into an open goal.
Carlton did respond to the first salvo, Kade Simpson pouncing on a rare Hawthorn turnover and finding Andrejs Everitt, who goalled on the run.
The Hawks slammed on the next four goals and could easily have had seven, each opportunity seemingly less hard work than the last.
Paul Puopolo gratefully accepted a Roughead handball and converted. Frawley slotted a ripper from the junction of the 50-metre arc and the boundary line. Roughead loped to the 50-metre line and dobbed another and Jack Gunston bounced through his first, the lead already 26 points.
Carlton, to their credit, didn't drop their bundle. In fact, it was the Blues who convincingly won the clearance count in the second term 11-4, and enjoyed 15 forward 50 entries to the Hawks' 11.
Yet even then the class gap was obvious, Hawthorn still winning the term on the scoreboard, albeit narrowly. Roughead casually notched up his third goal and Frawley his second, then Gunston joined the multiple goalkicker club.
The usual suspects all shone for the Hawks, Sam Mitchell having a picnic in the first half before easing up a little in the second, Roughead everywhere, Jordan Lewis his understated but effective self, and Josh Gibson outstanding as a defender who also won plenty of ball.
Indeed, the loudest cheer of the day came not for a grab or a goal, but a spoil from Gibson, a superb effort in which he made up a good 20 metres to prevent Andrew Walker from marking and thumped the ball some distance to the boundary line.
The Blues had plenty of triers. Andrew Carrazzo, in his final game of AFL football, led the half-time possession count, Ed Curnow had a crack, and Patrick Cripps just continued to do what he all year.
The kid should win the Rising Star, and may even end up with Carlton's best and fairest. Either way, he's been far and away the standout of a dismal year for the club, for whom this defeat, coming on the heels of Brisbane's upset of the Western Bulldogs, confirmed a fourth wooden spoon this millennium.
That was at least something for new coach Brendon Bolton, again sitting in the stands, over which to enthuse. He would surely have felt some pride in watching his old club, too. The standard the Hawks have set is the standard to which the likes of Carlton have to aspire. And at least Bolton has helped create something well worth his new club emulating.
