HAWTHORN was staring down the barrel.

Scoreless, five goals behind and on the cusp on a fifth straight defeat after just 15 minutes. At that point, damage control might have been on Alastair Clarkson's mind – not the prospect of a stunning turnaround and 31-point win over Carlton.

>> WATCH THE MATCH HIGHLIGHTS IN THE PLAYER ABOVE

But the remarkable comeback, inspired by nine of the next 10 goals, helped the Hawks finally kickstart a lagging season with a rousing 14.5 (89) to 9.4 (58) win at Optus Stadium on Friday afternoon.

00:38

It's jump-on Jarman time with a goal on his return

Jarman Impey kicks a goal in his first game for 12 months and his teammates celebrate

Tom Mitchell (28 disposals, eight tackles) and James Worpel (20 disposals, five tackles) were at the heartbeat of the seismic shift in momentum, with their work at the coal face consistently putting Hawthorn on the front foot after quarter-time.

DON'T WRITE OFF HAWKS Full match coverage and stats

As the ball was fired forward, Jack Gunston (16 disposals, three goals) and Shaun Burgoyne (14 disposals, five score involvements) were on hand to capitalise with outstanding performances to ensure Hawthorn was able to snap its four-match losing streak.

00:46

Staggering surge as Smith gives Hawks the lead

Hawthorn veteran Isaac Smith kicks his second goal and puts his side in front

Patrick Cripps (27 disposals, eight clearances) was prominent early, but like most of his Carlton teammates his influence faded the longer the match went as his side's growing finals chances suffered an untimely and regrettable blow.

The result suddenly levels both teams at 4-5 on the season, with the narrative of their respective campaigns now likely to shift just as rapidly as the score worm on Friday afternoon.

00:41

Inventive Hawk creates Day-light for special first goal

Will Day takes the game on and is rewarded with a career milestone

How did they turn that around?
Carlton was 31 points up. Hawthorn was scoreless, but just 45 minutes later the Hawks had kicked eight of nine goals and led comfortably at half-time. How did they do it? Well, they smashed the Blues in disposals (+38), clearances (+3), contested possessions (+9) and inside 50s (+7) throughout the second quarter. In all four statistical categories, Hawthorn had been soundly beaten throughout the opening term. The side's ability to turn things around in those particular areas was crucial, with James Worpel and Tom Mitchell leading the turnaround with their frenzied work in contested situations. Wiley veteran Shaun Burgoyne also had five score involvements for the quarter to help inspire the comeback. 

00:48

Check out the workrate from bursting Wingard

Hawthorn forward Chad Wingard earns every bit of this goal

Soft side exposed again for Blues
Carlton's inability to stop momentum under David Teague has been an issue that has long plagued the side. It was evident again on Friday, as the Blues conceded nine of 10 goals to see their early lead quickly evaporate. Remarkably, it was the 13th time in 20 games under Teague's watch that Carlton has conceded a 30-point swing within a match. The pressure told in the second quarter, when the normally unflappable Patrick Cripps twice spurned routine opportunities. The first saw him play-on from a set-shot, attempting to round the man on the mark, before failing to spot an unmarked Eddie Betts streaming towards goal and instead blazing away himself. It was frustrating football from a frustrated side. 

Patrick Cripps feels the heat against Hawthorn. Picture: AFL Photos

New life in Hawks’ forward line
There was a lot to cheer on either side of half-time for Hawthorn fans, but nothing would have warmed the hearts more than Jarman Impey's goal in the third quarter. Returning from just over a year out of the game due to an ACL injury, Impey was shifted forward and showed glimpses of the quality that saw him lead the club's best and fairest count last season at the time he hurt his knee. His return was a further boost to Hawthorn's new-look attack on Friday afternoon. Luke Breust returned from a month out with a fractured jaw, Tim O'Brien came back into the side after missing one match with an ankle injury, while Jon Ceglar's inclusion following a toe problem enabled the Hawks to shift Ben McEvoy forward. The result was Jack Gunston, Breust, O'Brien and Impey combining for seven goals

ALL THE HIGHLIGHTS

  • 14:13

    Clarkson: 'The media's got every right to ask questions'

    Watch Hawthorn's press conference after round nine's match against Carlton

    AFL
  • 05:51

    Teague: 'We didn't have enough guys get their jobs done'

    Watch Carlton's press conference after round nine's match against Hawthorn

    AFL
  • 07:41

    Highlights: Carlton v Hawthorn

    The Blues and Hawks clash in round nine

    AFL
  • 00:48

    Check out the workrate from bursting Wingard

    Hawthorn forward Chad Wingard earns every bit of this goal

    AFL
  • 00:38

    It's jump-on Jarman time with a goal on his return

    Jarman Impey kicks a goal in his first game for 12 months and his teammates celebrate

    AFL
  • 00:46

    Staggering surge as Smith gives Hawks the lead

    Hawthorn veteran Isaac Smith kicks his second goal and puts his side in front

    AFL
  • 00:41

    Inventive Hawk creates Day-light for special first goal

    Will Day takes the game on and is rewarded with a career milestone

    AFL
  • 00:56

    Launching Levi and the Blues are red hot

    Levi Casboult takes a strong grab and kicks Carlton's third goal to no reply

    AFL

CARLTON         5.1    6.2    7.4     9.4 (58)
HAWTHORN     2.0   8.3    11.4   14.5 (89)

GOALS
Carlton: Casboult 3, Newnes 2, Martin 2, Cuningham, Cripps
Hawthorn: Gunston 3, Shiels 2, Smith 2, Breust 2, Day, O'Meara, O'Brien, Impey, Wingard

BEST
Carlton: Cripps, Weitering, Casboult, Curnow, Martin
Hawthorn: Mitchell, Worpel, Gunston, O'Meara, Burgoyne, Shiels, Breust 

INJURIES
Carlton: Nil
Hawthorn: Nil

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