NAB Cup Rd 2: Photo Gallery
CARLTON is just one win away from reaching its third NAB Cup grand final in five years after it overcame last year's premiers Hawthorn in its quarter-final clash at Telstra Dome on Sunday.
The Blues 2.13.16 (112) defeated the Hawks 2.10.10 (88) and will now take on Geelong in a semi-final next Saturday night at Telstra Dome. Should the Blues overcome the Cats, they will be aiming to repeat their recent feats achieved in 2005 and 2007.
In an entertaining twilight match, highlighted by the goalkicking exploits of Brendan Fevola and Hawthorn's Jarryd Roughead, the Blues bounced back from a half time deficit to record their impressive win.
Fev, who now has a career total of 98 pre-season/night series goals, bagged four goals (including one nine-pointer) on the back of his five majors and one supergoal against North Melbourne last round.
Roughead finished his 2009 NAB Cup campaign with 12 goals after kicking another half-dozen against the Blues.
On top of the loss, the Hawks had their own troubles with premiership players Campbell Brown (foot) and Stephen Gilham (knee) suffering injuries. Josh Kennedy also hurt his shoulder but returned to the field.
Bryce Gibbs was Carlton's leading ball-winner with 28 disposals, with Nick Stevens (26) and Kade Simpson (24) rounding out the top three. Defender Jarrad Waite was also in fine form for the Blues.
Hawthorn youngster Travis Tuck was his side's highest disposal winner with 29 touches.
The Blues went into the match without Andrew Carrazzo, Matthew Kreuzer, Heath Scotland, Andrew Walker, Robbie Warnock and Chris Yarran.
The brown and gold dominated the opening term with four goals to one. It wasn't until the 24-minute mark when Carlton posted its first for the match via Cameron Cloke.
As a result, the Blues trailed by 25 points at quarter-time.
The Hawks jumped out to a 29-point lead early in the second quarter, after Roughead added his second and third.
Just as Hawthorn looked to have the game by the scruff of the neck, Carlton regained its composure and reeled the margin back in to a nine-point deficit at half time.
The Blues kick-started their revival via some great work from Fevola, who won a hard-ball get inside 50 and then dished off to Judd. From there the Carlton skipper handballed to Waite, who kicked an open goal on the run.
Fev was again among the action minutes later when he marked strongly on the lead and converted a supergoal, which split the middle. It was kicking for goal artistry at its best.
And when Murphy marked and subsequently kicked truly after the half time siren, the Blues were right back in the hunt.
Carlton continued its surge into the second half, adding the first three goals to give them six in a row and ultimately an 11-point lead. A nine-pointer from Murphy, Simpson's second and Fevola's first regulation goal all contributed to Carlton's lead.
Hawthorn regained the lead midway through the term after former Lion rookie Haydn Kiel and 2008 premiership player Chance Bateman booted supergoals, but the Blues hit back late in the term with three majors to take a seven-point lead into the final change.
Carlton added three goals to one in the final term, ending any chance of a Hawthorn semi-final appearance.
Carlton 0.14 1.4.8 2.10.11 2.13.16 (112)
Hawthorn 0.5.5 0.7.8 2.9.10 2.10.10 (88)
GOALS
Carlton: Nine-point goals: Fevola, Murphy Goals: Fevola 3, Cloke 2, Simpson 2, Betts, Hampson, Judd, Murphy, Robinson, Waite
Hawthorn: Nine-point goals: Bateman, Kiel Goals: Roughead 6, Kennedy, McGlynn, Moss, Thorp
BEST
Carlton: Fevola, Waite, Simpson, Murphy, Gibbs, Stevens, Judd
Hawthorn: Roughead, Tuck, Mitchell, Birchall, Bateman, McGlynn, Moss
INJURIES
Carlton: Nil
Hawthorn: Brown (foot), Gilham (knee)
Reports: Nil
Umpires: McLaren, Chamberlain, Jennings
Crowd: 19,111 at Docklands
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL
