The Blues booked a semi-final showdown against Geelong following their classy display, grinding away in the second half to win 2.13.16 (112) to 2.10.10 (88).
Hawthorn’s loss was further compounded by injuries to key pair Campbell Brown and Stephen Gilham.
While Gilham (knee) was sighted walking along the boundary line at half-time after leaving the field in the second term, Brown’s apparent ankle or foot injury might be of more concern.
Upon flying for a mark late in the first quarter, he immediately hobbled to the interchange bench and went straight up the race. He was not sighted for the remainder of the afternoon.
The Blues had to rely on a spirited last quarter – and maybe a little good fortune – to win their way through to the next round of the NAB Cup, with the game delicately poised at the final break.
Carlton had led by seven points heading into the final stanza after three goals to Fevola in the third term set the scene for a thrilling finale.
The Blues hit the front for the first time in the day early in a ripping third term when Kade Simpson drilled a running goal, but the next 25 minutes saw a see-sawing battle.
Up one end Fevola and Eddie Betts threatened to shut the Hawks out as they kicked some beauties from tight angles but at the other, Roughead continued to cause headaches.
His fifth of the day right on the siren cut the margin back to seven points and it looked a case of the Hawk spearhead – as he had done a week earlier against Melbourne – having to boot his team to victory.
After young Blue Mitch Robinson extended Carlton’s lead to 14 points early in the last term Roughead kicked his sixth to keep the Hawks in it. But the Blues responded.
Goals to Cameron Cloke and Shaun Hampson got Carlton back out to a comfortable 22-point advantage, although replays of Hampson’s major suggested the young ruckman might have been lucky in being credited with the six-pointer.
Whoever’s boot the ball actually touched, it would not have mattered as the Blues – who had trailed by 30 points at one stage – finished the game with more spring in their step.
For Carlton, Nick Stevens (26 touches) worked hard around the packs all day, Fevola (four goals including a supergoal), Chris Judd (21 disposals, one goal) and Bryce Gibbs -- who finished the game with 28 possessions after having just one touch to quarter time -- all impressed.
Roughead was the star for the Hawks, while skipper Sam Mitchell (24 disposals), Chance Bateman (17) and Travis Tuck (29) worked tirelessly through the midfield.
Earlier, Brown’s presence in attack had helped Hawthorn kick clear in the opening term as his team, despite missing several stars, made all the running.
Carlton, keen to make an impression in the NAB Cup and eager to continue its momentum heading into the premiership season fielded a side close to full strength but struggled to make any impression early.
After some stern words from coach Brett Ratten at the first change, Carlton lifted its intensity, and with Stevens getting his hands on the ball and using it neatly, the Blues started to hit back.
Fevola worked his way into the game and when he booted a supergoal mid-way through the second quarter – and Gilham limped off at the same time – the Blues seemed to be grabbing the ascendancy.
They had eaten away at a 25-point deficit at the first break and by the main change the margin was just nine points.
A win over the Cats in next week’s semi-final would continue the warm and fuzzy vibe at Visy Park as Ratten’s men enter 2009 buoyed by their prospects.
Carlton 0.14 1.4.8 2.10.11 2.13.16 (112)
Hawthorn 0.5.5 0.7.8 2.9.10 2.10.10 (88)
GOALS
Carlton: Nine-point goals: Fevola, Murphy Goals: Fevola 3, Cloke 2, Simpson 2, Betts, Hampson, Judd, Murphy, Robinson, Waite
Hawthorn: Nine-point goals: Bateman, Kiel Goals: Roughead 6, Kennedy, McGlynn, Moss, Thorp
BEST
Carlton: Fevola, Waite, Simpson, Murphy, Gibbs, Stevens, Judd
Hawthorn: Roughead, Tuck, Mitchell, Birchall, Bateman, McGlynn, Moss
INJURIES
Carlton: Nil
Hawthorn: Brown (foot), Gilham (knee)
Reports: Nil
Umpires: McLaren, Chamberlain, Jennings
Crowd: 19,111 at Docklands
Dream Team watch -- Brendan Fevola scored 83 Toyota AFL Dream Team points in Carlton's win over Carlton
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL
