Goals are good; points are better
Brett Ratten is happy to see Brendan Fevola and Buddy Franklin get their tons, and happier still if the Blues get the four points
Both Fevola and Franklin have the chance to register 100 goals for the season when the teams meet at Telstra Dome – Franklin has 98 majors, Fevola 92.
Tony Lockett's 107 in 1998 was the last time anyone reached the ton in the home and away season, and Ratten said it would be great for football if it was achieved again.
"At the end of the day I think it'd be fantastic," he said. "It'll be great when he (Franklin) does kick it – he gets about eight or nine shots, so he only needs two goals, and I dare say he'll get enough shots even if we play blokes back.
"I think it'd be great for footy supporters in general. Who knows if it does happen, but to have this scenario played out – let alone in the same round but at the same venue – that two players can achieve the 100 goals, I think it's just great for footy."
And while Ratten would love Fevola to kick the century, he said the focus should still remain on getting the four points, despite his side being out of the finals race.
"I think the win's the first thing. It would be great for him (Fevola) – you get this close, and to be eight goals away – it'd be great for him to kick 100 goals personally, and then we can play him at centre half-forward for the rest of his career. It'd be great," he said with a mischievous look in his eye.
Carlton captain Chris Judd highlighted the importance of his side's efforts to close out the season.
"I think we've come a long way this season, in terms of how we're viewed by the rest of the competition, and probably the football public as well," he said.
"So if we were to come out and put in a sub-par performance I think it would detract from a reasonably successful year for this footy club.
"It's a huge test for us. I think we are where we are on the ladder, and we certainly deserve to be there, but Hawthorn are the second-best team in the comp, have been playing some great footy, and they've got some great players.
"So it's a huge test for us, and just for our young players, to get the experience to play on some of the big-name players in the competition will be good experience for them."