Hawthorn may be no strangers to rivalry curses themselves but their Carlton opponents will be more than aware that they haven’t overcome the Hawks since round six, 2005. Shooting for a 10th straight win against the Blues on Friday night, Hawthorn have started to hit their straps over the past month.
Though Carlton’s small forwards Eddie Betts and Jeff Garlett have combined for 12 goals in the past three encounters with the Hawks, Carlton have often failed to put up competitive scores in these clashes. When they last overcame the Hawks it was on the back of five goals to Jarrad Waite and he again looms as Carlton’s main hope up forward. The midfield battle will be evenly matched so Carlton must also find alternative avenues to goal. The Blues had plenty of forward entries last week against Essendon but they’re going to have to make them count if they’re to upset the Hawks.
By contrast, Hawthorn don’t seem to have a care in the world at the moment. Jeff Kennett is busy disrupting a different club for once and they come out of their break with four consecutive wins behind them and sit in second place on the ladder. All this and Alistair Clarkson still doesn’t think they’re anywhere near reaching their potential. They’ll be looking to start the second half of their season with a bang.
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