IT MIGHT be a new season, but it was more of the same from reigning premier Hawthorn as it scored a 21-point win over Carlton in the opening NAB Challenge match in Launceston on Thursday night.

It took the triple premiers over a quarter to shake off the cobwebs – as well as a dogged Blues outfit keen to impress under new coach Brendon Bolton – before they ran away to a 0.8.5 (53) to 0.4.8 (32) victory in front of 9181 fans at Aurora Stadium.

With experienced campaigners Sam Mitchell, Grant Birchall and Jordan Lewis controlling the ball through half-back and midfield, the Hawks had too much polish for a Carlton side well led by recruit Sam Kerridge, club vice-captain Kade Simpson and fit-again Dale Thomas.

At times, both sides exhibited the kind of sketchy disposal you might expect in week one of a new season but the Blues more than matched Hawthorn for endeavour in a tight opening term.

The reigning premiers could manage just five forward entries for the quarter and a crumbed goal to Luke Breust, his first of three for the night, was their only major as the Blues took a narrow but well-deserved seven-point lead into the first break.

But as is their way at Aurora Stadium, as soon as the Hawks began to win control of the ball and began racking up uncontested marks, a count they won 101-45, they steadily tightened the noose and effectively shut out the Blues by kicking four goals to nil in a telling third quarter.

Former Crow Kerridge was a standout for the Blues and if he maintains the kind of hard-headed approach that saw him rack up 28 disposals and seven tackles, he’ll become a firm favourite at Ikon Park and provide valuable support to star midfielders Marc Murphy and Patrick Cripps who were both missing.

WHAT WE LEARNED

Hawthorn: With Jarryd Roughead likely to miss at least half the season, and in Jack Gunston’s absence, it was down to James Sicily, Ryan Schoenmakers and Jack Fitzpatrick to provide forward targets. The ever-reliable Luke Breust to led the way with three goals, with five players chipping in with singles.

Carlton: Brendon Bolton would have been happy with the way his side attacked the game from the outset, harrying the Hawks and going to the first break with a seven-point lead. As the night wore on, however, the Blues struggled to compete with Hawthorn’s ability to control the ball. That said, with Marc Murphy and Patrick Cripps to return in coming weeks, the Blues will soon have more class and muscle to complement the raw effort they showed in Launceston.

NEXT UP

The Hawks return to Victoria, travelling into the Melbourne suburbs to face Richmond in Beaconsfield on Saturday, February 27.

Carlton’s second NAB Challenge fixture sees them play host to old rivals Essendon at Ikon Park on Sunday, February 28

HAWTHORN      0.1.1    0.4.2     0.7.3     0.8.5 (53)                  
CARLTON          0.2.2    0.3.3     0.3.5     0.4.8 (32)          

SUPERGOALS
Hawthorn: Nil
Carlton:  Nil

GOALS
Hawthorn: Breust 3, Sicily, Mitchell, O’Brien, Miles, Schoenmakers
Carlton: Casboult, Graham, Everitt, Graham

BEST
Hawthorn: Mitchell, Birchall, Breust, Lewis, Howe
Carlton: Kerridge, Simpson, Rowe, Thomas

INJURIES
Hawthorn: Nil
Carlton: Nil

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Simon Meredith, Robert Findlay, Sam Hay, Brett Rosebury

Official crowd: 9181 at Aurora Stadium