It was all lost in the first quarter. Hawthorn’s hopes for redemption were dashed as Carlton seized a 31-point lead in the opening term of Saturday evening’s semi-final. The match, held at a packed stadium, marked a bitter end to Hawthorn’s season as they fell by 46 points, repeating their straight-sets finals exit from 2024.
Hawthorn coach Daniel Webster lamented the early deficit, describing it as the “death knell” for their finals campaign. “Carlton were electric in the first quarter, but we were so far from it and that’s the most disappointing thing,” Webster stated. “When it’s a big final and they got on a roll, we were unable to stop it.”
Hawks’ Struggles and Missed Opportunities
Despite a spirited effort following the initial setback, Hawthorn couldn’t recover. Webster was visibly frustrated with his squad at quarter-time, as they failed to score and only entered their attacking 50 three times. “I’d prefer not to give a spray, but the facts and realities are, the first quarter was nowhere near standard,” Webster said. “Players need to know that then and there, and to their credit, they responded really well. Just needed it from the first bounce.”
This loss echoes last year’s semi-final disappointment, where the Hawks squandered a significant lead against Port Adelaide. Injuries and limited player availability plagued the team throughout the season, hindering their ability to showcase their best football.
“Yes, we had 21 fit players in terms of that, so there’s no excuse on that end,” Webster noted. “It’s just a challenge getting up and even able to train the right way because then you’ve got to manage training loads more.”
Injuries Take Their Toll
Star players Jasmine Fleming and Aine McDonagh played through injuries, with Fleming spending most of the game in attack due to a groin issue. Vice-captain Eliza West, one of the few to remain injury-free this season, was ruled out early in the second half with concussion.
Meanwhile, Carlton’s coach Mathew Buck praised his team’s balance between enjoyment and hard work. “What the players are really great at is balancing that fun with the hard work that they bring during the week,” Buck said. “We’re starting to see if you’re relaxed and you enjoy that, you can play really great footy as well.”
Carlton’s Dominance and Future Prospects
Carlton’s dominance from the opening bounce was a testament to their understanding of finals intensity. “We’ve spoken a little bit around finals and the intensity shift that you need to make,” Buck explained. “It’s really important that that comes from us and we wanted to ensure that was the case.”
“Now, I probably didn’t expect to roll out and for that to be the scoreline at the end of quarter-time, but we had some non-negotiables around the way we attack contest,” Buck added.
Looking ahead, Carlton is set to face Brisbane at Brighton Homes Arena, a venue where they secured victory earlier in the season. The team emerged from the semi-final with a clean bill of health, ready to continue their finals journey.
The announcement comes as Carlton fans revel in their team’s success, while Hawthorn supporters are left to ponder what could have been. As the Hawks regroup for next season, the focus will be on addressing the issues that have plagued them in consecutive finals campaigns.
