Geelong forwards Tom Hawkins and Mitch Clark have helped fire the Cats to a 19-point NAB Challenge win over Carlton at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
The pairing of Hawkins and Clark is an exciting proposition for the Cats in season 2015 and their fans caught a glimpse of what life might be like with the tandem on song up forward.
Hawkins looked dangerous every time he went near the football against the Blues, as the star forward finished the day with a game-high five goals.
Clark also chimed in with three majors, with the Cats' Steve Johnson – in his first game of the pre-season – booting a late major to close out the 0.17.9 (111) to 2.10.14 (92) result.
Geelong was strong in the first half, controlling the footy and making the most of its opportunities in front of goal.
Young midfielders Mitch Duncan (24 disposals and two goals) and Cameron Guthrie (26 and one goal) threatened to run the Blues off their feet, while captain Joel Selwood was as solid as ever with 28 touches.
Geelong booted five goals to the Blues' one (plus Troy Menzel's super goal) in a high-energy first term, before a Tom Hawkins goal early in the second quarter fired the Cats to a commanding 35-point lead.
VIDEO: Menzel slams through a supergoal
From there it looked as though the Cats could charge away with the contest, but the Blues refused to yield and, on the back of lifting their work rate around the ball, reeled off four goals in a row.
One of those majors was a Matthew Watson super goal.
Young midfielder Patrick Cripps was superb throughout the game, with the 20-year-old collecting 32 disposals in the best game of his young career.
Blues coach Mick Malthouse said the youngster will have learned plenty from coming up against Selwood.
"The more time we put into him, the better he's going to get. Particularly with guidance from guys like Judd, Gibbs and Murphy," Malthouse said.
"And then playing against Selwood, who I rate as one of the best players in the comp, and Johnson goes into the middle or Motlop goes into the middle or Guthrie or whoever, it's like a schoolyard he just keeps learning."
VIDEO: Mick Malthouse pleased with pre-season campaign
Old hands Andrew Carrazzo (24) and Chris Judd (18) – who was opposed to Guthrie for much of the contest before being subbed out at three-quarter time – also battled hard for much of the day.
VIDEO: Marc Murphy speaks to CFC TV post-match
The difference between the teams came down to Geelong's ability to exit the ball to the outside of the contest, where Duncan, Guthrie, Steven Motlop and Nakia Cockatoo were damaging.
The loss of Chris Yarran, who was a late withdrawal after battling a chest infection in the lead-up to the game, and Kade Simpson did not help the Blues' cause.
With Michael Jamison substituted out of the contest in the third quarter, it was left to Sam Rowe and Kristian Jaksch to hold down the fort down back.
It proved too difficult, as Hawkins and Clark took it in turns to hit the scoreboard in a highly-entertaining clash on Sunday evening.
The Blues now turn their attention to their season opener against Richmond on Thursday April 2.
CARLTON 1.1.3 2.5.6 2.8.9 2.10.14 (92)
GEELONG 0.5.3 0.9.7 0.15.7 0.17.9 (111)
SUPERGOALS
Carlton: Menzel, Watson
Geelong: Nil
GOALS
Carlton: Henderson 2, Menzel 2, Thomas, Rowe, Bell, Jones
Geelong: Hawkins 5, Clark 3, Duncan 2, Selwood, Stokes, Motlop, Guthrie, Kelly, Blicavs, Johnson
BEST
Carlton: Cripps, Bell, Carrazzo, Judd, Menzel
Geelong: Duncan, Selwood, Hawkins, Guthrie, Enright, Motlop, Rivers
INJURIES
Carlton: Nil
Geelong: Mitch Clark (dislocated finger)
SUBSTITUTES
Carlton: Clem Smith replaced Michael Jamison in the third quarter; Jason Tutt replaced Chris Judd at three-quarter time
Geelong: Jimmy Bartel replaced Mathew Stokes at half time; Jordan Murdoch replaced Cory Gregson at half-time
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Harris, Ryan, Mitchell
Official crowd: 10,631 at Etihad Stadium
