HAWTHORN has progressed through to the NAB CUP semi-finals after dispatching a slow-starting Carlton side by 34 points at Telstra Dome on Saturday night.

A dominating first half set up the 4.9.13 (103) to 4.3.15 (69) win, with the Blues mounting an assault in the third term before conditions became slippery in the fourth when rain was let in by the open Telstra Dome roof.

It was a reversal of fortunes from last year's pre-season competition, with the Blues triumphant in that head-to-head encounter at the quarter-final stage.

The Hawks will now play the winner of Sunday's Adelaide-Fremantle clash next Saturday night, with the match to be held at either AAMI Stadium or Subiaco. 

While Carlton halved Hawthorn's biggest lead of 69 points in a more-evenly contested second half, the Hawks were never really in doubt owing to their clean possession and dominance at the centre-clearances.

Tim Clarke (23 touches) and Mark Williams (seven possessions, one behind) survived their second matches following long lay-offs, but Lance 'Buddy' Franklin played only the first half and watched the second in his tracksuit from the bench.

Tough defender Campbell Brown – in his first hit-out for the year – spent time on Heath Scotland and as a loose man in defence while racking up 14 disposals.

Hawthorn got away to an absolute blinder and had amassed a 54-point lead by quarter-time. While the Blues over-possessed and were slow with the ball, the Hawks were precise with their delivery into the forward line and relentless with tackles.

Cyril Rioli shone early on, after being picked up by Shaun Grigg, and booted an impressive goal after slamming veteran Heath Scotland into the turf and winning a free kick.

Jordan Lewis led the possession count at quarter-time following an engaging battle with Nick Stevens, while Clarke – in just his second game since round two last year – was also picking up plenty of touches.

To make matters worse for the Blues, the Hawks opened the second quarter with quick goals to Tim Boyle and Clarke – the former later deemed a supergoal and the latter assembled from Rioli's fancy footwork.

The margin got out as far as 69 points before the Blues started to get their act together, and despite the constant pressure applied by the Hawks, the away side managed to claw back two supergoals from Simon Wiggins and Grigg.

The Hawks took a 49-point lead into halftime, which was soon rectified to 52 after a video review of Boyle's supergoal. Interestingly, the Blues were yet to register a regular goal, having scored only two nine-pointers and seven behinds.

Lewis was a hero-turned-villain in the opening stages of the third, with the 21-year-old booting a supergoal following a free kick from Stevens, but then handing new Blue Richard Hadley a six-pointer after giving away a 50m penalty.

Franklin took to the bench in the second half, which enabled his direct opponent Jarrad Waite to drift forward. It was a move that paid dividends, with the Blues quickly stealing back another goal through the versatile player.

The Blues' intensity was much improved after the long break. Brendan Fevola got away from Zac Dawson to nail his first, and then Cameron Cloke was awarded a 50m penalty from Simon Taylor that brought him within striking distance – and strike he did with a supergoal.

With the margin suddenly an achievable 35 points, the Hawks weren't quite sure what hit them having led by almost double that previously.  

The side was further unsettled in the early stages of the last when Brown charged into No.1 draft pick Matthew Kreuzer and awarded yet another 50m penalty. The young ruckman missed the shot, but not before a brief push-and-shove broke out.

The crowd of 20,940 lifted, given the minor fracas and almost-achievable difference, before an unexpected spate of showers soaked the usually-dry venue.

The final term was low-scoring and somewhat spiteful, with Hawk Josh Kennedy finding himself in the umpire's book for a collision with Marc Murphy.

Hawthorn                2.6.3     3.7.8     4.7.10    4.9.13 (103)
Carlton                   0.0.3     2.0.7     3.3.9      4.3.15 (69)

GOALS
Hawthorn: Supergoals: Birchall, Franklin, Boyle, Lewis. Goals: Hodge 2, Lewis, Campbell, Rioli, Clarke, Boyle, Murphy, Brown.
Carlton: Supergoals: Wiggins, Grigg, Cloke, Stevens. Goals: Hadley, Fevola, Waite

BEST:
Hawthorn: Clarke, Hodge, Lewis, Young, Mitchell, Rioli, Osborne
Carlton: Stevens, Murphy, Scotland, Carrazzo, Gibbs, Simpson, Waite

INJURIES:
Hawthorn: Clarke (corked elbow)
Carlton: Hampson (bruised testicle), Jackson (corked thigh)

Reports: Kennedy (Hawthorn) reported by umpire Wenn for charging Murphy (Carlton) in the fourth term
Brown (Hawthorn) reported by umpire McBurney for charging Kreuzer (Carlton) in the fourth quarter
Kennedy (Hawthorn) reported by umpire Wenn for making forceful contact to Murphy (Carlton) in the fourth quarter
Franklin (Hawthorn) reported by umpire Wenn for wrestling Simpson (Carlton) in the second quarter
Simpson (Carlton) reported by umpire Wenn for wrestling Franklin (Hawthorn) in the second quarter

Umpires: Wenn, McBurney, Statham, Bowen

Official crowd: 20,940 at Telstra Dome