HAWTHORN has won its eighth straight game, defeating Carlton by 138 points at Etihad Stadium on Friday night.
The win - which was Carlton's biggest-ever loss - keeps the Hawks on track in their bid to secure a top four spot, and the increase in percentage did no harm to their chances of earning a top-two position at the end of the year.
After a scrappy opening 10 minutes, the Hawks finally broke through for their first goal through skipper Luke Hodge.
A few minutes later, a pacey Billy Hartung ran down the wing and delivered to Luke Breust in the pocket, who then kicked to a vacant goal square for Jordan Lewis to run onto to kick the Hawks second.
From there it was all Hawthorn.
Hawthorn’s foot skills started to slice through the middle of the ground and Jack Gunston got in on act to kick the Hawks third.
There were goals also to Ryan Shoenmakers and Breust, who copped a knock to the head in a marking contest from Carlton’s Nick Holman.
Breust was taken to the goal line via a 50-metre penalty and duly converted.
Jordan Lewis had 14 disposals in the first quarter to set the Hawks on their way.
It didn’t take as long for the Hawks to find the goals in the second term, as Gunston became the first multiple goal kicker of the game.
The Hawks dominated possession and shared the ball at will throughout the contest, however defender Matt Spangher was substituted before the half time break with a suspected hamstring injury.
Carlton kicked their first goal of the game at the 17-minute mark of the second quarter via a free kick to Andrejs Everitt.
The Hawks pressure was constant throughout the night.
A Carlton switch scross the backline exemplified this pressure best, with Cyril Rioli sensing an opportunity closed down on Kade Simpson as he waited for the ball in flight.
Simpson dropped the ball and Rioli tackled, forcing the ball out to Gunston who then handballed back to Rioli, who snapped the goal.
At halftime the Hawks held a 65-point lead, their biggest ever half-time break on the Blues.
Substitute Paul Puopolo kicked the first two goals of the third term as the Hawks continued to work hard.
Billy Hartung kicked a lovely goal and soon after Jack Gunston kicked his fifth to take the lead beyond 100 points for the first time.
It was all part of a seven goal to none term from the Hawks.
The Blues managed a couple of goals in the final quarter, but it was the Hawks who celebrated in David Hale's 100th game for the club, whilst Jack Gunston’s sixth and final goal was his 200th AFL goal.
CARLTON 0.2 2.5 2.7 4.11 (35)
HAWTHORN 5.2 13.4 20.8 27.11 (173)
GOALS
Carlton: Everitt, Jones, Bell, Boekhorst
Hawthorn: Gunston 6, Breust 3, Puopolo 3, Lewis 2, Schoenmakers 2, Rioli 2, Hartung 2, Roughead 2, McEvoy 2, Hodge, Hale, O’Rourke
BEST
Carlton: Murphy, Kreuzer, Bell, Cripps
Hawthorn: Lewis, Hartung, Mitchell, Gunston, Hodge, Rioli, Gibson
INJURIES
Carlton: Troy Menzel (tight adductor) replaced in the selected side by Blaine Johnson.
Hawthorn: Matt Spangher (hamstring), Jarryd Roughead (leg)
SUBSTITUTES
Carlton: Blaine Johnson replaced by Brad Walsh in the third quarter
Hawthorn: Matt Spangher replaced by Paul Puopolo in the second quarter
Reports: Nick Holman (Carlton) reported for striking Luke Breust (Hawthorn) in the first quarter.
Umpires: Deboy, Findlay, Jeffery
Official crowd: 26,815 at Etihad Stadium
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