Launceston: It was a family sort of affair on Saturday in Tasmania. After all, Brendon Bolton had returned to his home state, to face his former club at a very familiar venue. As if to make things even more accommodating, Hawthorn pulled Cyril Rioli before the match. To top it off, there was a (successful) marriage proposal during the quarter-time interval.

And when it was all said and done, both sides should fly back to Victoria happy. Hawthorn never trailed, kept Carlton at arm's length for most of the day, and ended winning their ninth straight match – maintaining their two-win buffer atop the AFL ladder.

In winning the Hawks also preserved the AFL's longest-running active winning streak of one club over another. They remain unbeaten against Carlton since 2005, a time when Blues coach Brendon Bolton was at the helm of North Hobart. Just for good measure, Hawthorn have now won 19 in a row at Aurora Stadium, completing a fourth straight year of perfection in the Apple Isle.

While the Blues lost their seventh game in succession, they were again valiant, with Patrick Cripps again a standout.Their biggest problem remains up forward, where the moustachioed Levi Casboult may look like Chopper Read, but is playing a much less deadly brand of football.

It was largely playing to script early. The Hawks were on top territorially, and were peppering away at goal. All they were struggling to do was convert. It took Hawthorn until the 11-minute mark to get their first major, as Taylor Duryea slotted a set shot.

By that point they already had four behinds, and would soon have a fifth as Duryea sprayed a close-range attempt badly. The blustery conditions provided a minor alibi, but he was made to look silly not long after as Luke Breust dribbled through masterfully from the pocket.

Carlton hadn't scored to that point - but they would have the better of the next 45 minutes. Nick Graham soccered through a minor score, part of a run in which they had seven straight inside 50s, even though they went unrewarded to the first change. Hawthorn debutant Blake Hardwick had an opportunity to make them pay after the quarter-time siren, but his kick missed the lot. It summed up the quarter. Champagne footy this was not. Even Shaun Burgoyne – whose name is synonymous with class – was using the ball poorly at times.

If the first term was scrappy, the second was bizarrely uneventful. Only one goal was kicked – a cool set shot from Carlton's Dylan Buckley – and amazingly only 12 tackles were laid between the two teams. It was akin to a training drill, only without the skills to match. The term took just 24½ minutes, and the Blues would rightly have been ruing their handful of misses. Yet despite having been held to their lowest half-time score since round seven 2014, they were just a goal behind at the long change.

Looking to make amends for their second term somnolence, the Hawks charged out of the gates after the break. Jonathon Ceglar got the first goal of the quarter. They added another almost instantly, benefiting from some silver service from Ben McEvoy, creating a chain of play which ended in Burgoyne easing the ball home on the run.

It was only a couple of minutes later that Sam Docherty poked a kick-in straight to Breust, who sent the footy back over the defender's head. Jordan Lewis then goaled at the 12-minute mark, extending the margin to 32. It looked a match-winning lead, not least given Carlton had kicked just one goal to that point.

But to expect the Blues to fold at that point would to have again underestimated their stomach for the fight. With little warning they slammed on four goals in a row, bridging the margin to seven points. The fourth major in the chain – kicked by Matthew Kreuzer – followed an uplifting chase and tackle from Jack Silvagni.

Hawthorn needed a steadier.  They found it from Jack Gunston – who after an untidy afternoon in front of goal kicked truly when his side needed it. McEvoy added another after the resumption, and while Silvagni kept providing a forward option, the Hawks had done enough, with Ceglar all but sealing the four points midway through the term.

VOTES
Hawthorn v Carlton
(Daniel Cherny)

Patrick Cripps (Carl) 8
Jordan Lewis (Haw) 7
Kade Simpson (Carl) 7
Luke Breust (Haw) 7
Shaun Burgoyne (Haw) 7