Round 18, 2026
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| Venue: | MCG |
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| Date: | Saturday July 11, 2026 (7.35 pm). | ||||||||||||||||||
| Result: | Lost by 64 points. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Crowd: | 70,314 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Goalkickers: | M. McGovern 2.0, A. Cerra 1.1, F. Riley 1.0, B. Ainsworth 1.0, T. Byrne 1.0, J. Ison 0.1, Rushed 0.1. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Reports: | Nil. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Umpires: | Matt Stevic, John Howorth, Andrew Heffernan, Brent Wallace. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Injuries: | G. Hewett (back spasms) off in the final few minutes of the first quarter. He did not return. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Ladder: | 12th. | ||||||||||||||||||
Game Review
Blues defeated by Hawks
Carlton's winning run has come to an end at the hands of Hawthorn. - By Cristian Filippo, Carlton Media
Carlton's winning run has come to an end at the hands of Hawthorn. Outclassed by the Hawks in torrential conditions, the Blues trailed at every change and struggled to make an impression on the contest in the 6.3 (39 to 15.13 (103) defeat. The Blues couldn’t mark Will Hayward’s 200th, Sam Walsh’s 150th and Flynn Riley’s debut game with a win, kicking the opening goal of the game but otherwise struggling to generate any meaningful offence over the course of the night. Adam Cerra fought hard all night while Mitch McGovern kicked multiple goals, while Riley provided the highlight of the night with a goal in his first quarter of football. But after an even start where tempers threatened to boil over at the MCG, it was all Hawthorn, who dominated territory in wet conditions and opened up a lead from the second term. The Blues were left to do it without George Hewett, with a back injury sidelining the in-form midfield beyond quarter time, with the Hawks getting on top at the coalface. On a night where the Blues had few winners over the course of four quarters, Cerra finished with 27 disposals and 14 tackles - one shy of the Carlton record - while Walsh registered 35 disposals and seven clearances in his 150th. Carlton will look to return to winning form when it heads back to the MCG next Saturday night for a clash with old enemy, Collingwood.
Fraser, Blues take lessons from defeat.
Josh Fraser's post-Round 18 press conference.
"We know where we’re at, we know we’ve got more work in front of us." Carlton will take plenty to learn from a heavy defeat to Hawthorn at the MCG. With their seven-match winning run coming to an end, the Blues struggled to play to the conditions on Saturday night, feeding the Hawks' offence in the 64-point defeat. Here's what Interim Coach Josh Fraser had to say.
On how the game played out:
“They adapted to the conditions much better than what we did early. We haven’t been faced with those conditions for a long time, there’s some learning in that for us. “Their contest method for the most part of the night was quite strong. I didn’t feel like it was an effort thing with us, I thought we lacked a little bit of method at times. Their contest inside to out exposed us too often, there’ll be some good learnings out of that for us.”
On where things fell short:
“I thought our contest method was poor, we put our defence under stress. Behind the ball, we didn’t win enough contests. That was my initial reaction to the way we defended the ground, it didn’t look like the way we’ve been defending. We’ll need to take a dive into that. “It was clunky, really clunky tonight. Conditions determined that a little bit, but there were times in the game we tried to get a bit more speed in the game to get things going but we had some fundamental breakdowns which fed their game. I felt like we were trying to pull the right levers, we just weren’t able to execute consistently enough.”
On Hawthorn adapting to the conditions quicker than Carlton:
“There’s a bit to be said for teams that have great synergy and have played together for a long time. We’re still a relatively new group with new players. They looked more robust around contest when those conditions set in early, there’s no doubt about that. With the group they’ve got and where they’re at as a club right now in terms of being ready to win, their situational awareness is in front of where ours is. “That continues to be an area we’ll keep working at, this game gives us great feedback on individuals, on system, on conditions. We’ll take those learnings and be better for it - they certainly looked like a team who had played in conditions like that before and were able to adapt and adjust better than what we did.’
On enduring his first loss as Interim Coach:
“In my coaching journey, I’m not immune to losing. I’ve been in enough situations where I’ve lost coaching my own side. “We’ve had to learn how to handle winning over the last seven weeks, and I think it’s really important we don’t catastrophise a result. We get back to work. That’s been our process over the last seven games. We certainly haven’t been getting carried away with results, it’s been very process-oriented and on the back of tonight, it’ll be the same.”
On what the Blues will take from the game:
“It’s great feedback for us, it’s great learning for all of us. The game tonight challenged us differently to how it’s challenged us in the past seven weeks. That’s feedback right there. We know where we’re at, we know we’ve got more work in front of us. We’re committed to that work. “The feedback out of this game will be different to what it’s been to the past seven weeks, but it’s still really important to acknowledge it, confront it and make sure we’re better next time.”
On the early injury prognosis for George Hewett:
“Nothing specific at the moment, other than it didn’t look great for George. We’ll have to wait to get some more feedback on his injury early in the week, I don’t have much more of an update other than he couldn’t take any further part in the game.”
On Flynn Riley’s first game:
“I thought he competed well. He got better as the game went on, this experience for him will be enormous. He’s at the start of his journey. This game will give him feedback, rucking against a seasoned ruck in Meek. “The speed of the game, albeit the conditions tempered that a little bit, he’ll get feedback there. He had some nice moments. He’s a guy that’ll keep developing and hopefully be a longer term player for us.”
On Adam Cerra’s showing:
“He’s been playing pretty good footy for us, mainly on the wing. With George’s injury tonight, we put him back inside. He’s an experienced player that has capacity to play different roles. I thought he was pretty important for us tonight given the game wasn’t going our way, particularly around stoppage and contest at times. “He was able to go in there and have his moments for us. He’s grown his game being able to play on the wing, and we’ve also got that lever to pull by having him play inside as well.”
On making a tilt at the top 10:
“We don’t reference where we sit on the ladder, we’re referencing where we’re at and where we need to get better. The process around where we’re at has improved, we’ve got a lot of growth and learning and development to do. It gives you a carrot if you want to look at it that way, but it’s not something we’re driving hard internally. “Clearly off the back of tonight, we’ve got to get our game in better order consistently against teams that are ready to win now. Next week will bring another opportunity against a team that has played finals consistently over the last three or four years.”
Hawks snap Blues' streak in wet and wild clash
Hawthorn handed Josh Fraser his first loss as Carlton's interim coach. - By Dylan Bolch at the MCG
Hawthorn have broken Carlton’s incredible winning streak with a comprehensive 64-point win on a wet and wild night at the MCG. The Blues had won seven games in a row since interim coach Josh Fraser took the reins, but the Hawks proved too strong in tough conditions to record a 15.13 (103) to 6.3 (39) win. After last week’s horror loss to Melbourne, it was a strong response from Sam Mitchell’s Hawks, sending a reminder to the rest of the competition that they’re still one of this year’s leading premiership contenders. While the first half was an arm wrestle, the Hawks flexed their muscles in the second half, booting ten goals to two. Hawthorn fan favourite Jack Ginnivan’s class shone through, kicking three first-half goals in a scintillating display which included 25 disposals. When others were unable to execute basic skills given the conditions, Ginnivan’s craftiness and footy IQ stood out. Hawthorn swingman Blake Hardwick (25 disposals, five marks) was also pivotal, marshalling the troops superbly in defence, regularly denying Carlton’s forays forward. Perennially underrated, Hardwick has become somewhat of a swiss army knife for Mitchell, given he is able to win a game at either end of the ground. Hawthorn forward Connor Macdonald put together one of his best games of the season with 31 touches and seven clearances, while midfielder Josh Ward (23 disposals, one goal) battled hard around the coalface.
Sam Mitchell’s side controlled territory from the outset and were a class above, dominating both contest and clearance. The Blues were dealt a big blow on the injury front early, after tough on-baller George Hewett was ruled out for the rest of the game with a back issue. That saw midfielder Adam Cerra spend more time in the engine room, who tried hard all night to finish with 27 disposals, 14 tackles and a goal. Teammate Sam Walsh was also solid in defeat, amassing a game-high 35 touches. Youngsters on both sides impressed throughout the night, including Hawthorn defender Noah Mraz and forward Matt Hill, as well as Carlton Telstra AFL Rising Star contenders Jagga Smith and Harry Dean. The win means Hawthorn go a step closer to securing a top four berth, while the Blues’ wildcard hopes have taken a hit, but they’re well and truly still in the mix.
Best: A. Cerra, S. Walsh, F. Riley, N. Newman, J. Smith.
Team
| B: | 14 Oliver Florent | 47 Wade Derksen | 26 Nick Haynes |
| HB: | 15 Billy Wilson | 35 Harry Dean | 2 Lachlan Cowan |
| C: | 5 Adam Cerra | 18 Sam Walsh | 4 Ollie Hollands |
| HF: | 12 Ben Ainsworth | 11 Mitch McGovern | 11 Will Hayward |
| F: | 17 Brodie Kemp | 10 Harry McKay | 44 Francis Evans |
| Ruck: | 38 Flynn Riley | 9 Patrick Cripps (c) | 7 Jagga Smith |
| Interchange: | 24 Nic Newman | 29 George Hewett | 30 Jack Ison |
| 39 Talor Byrne | 46 Matt Cottrell | ||
| Coach: | Josh Fraser | ||
| Emergencies: | 36 Cooper Lord | 8 Lachie Fogarty | 27 Marc Pittonet |
In: Flynn Riley, Harry Dean
Out: Marc Pittonet (hamstring), Lewis Young (concussion)
Milestones
150 Games: Sam Walsh
200 Games (AFL): Will Hayward
Debut (Only Game) and First Goal: Flynn Riley
Interesting Facts
1. Debutant Flynn Riley's height is 210cm (6ft 10.67ins).
2. Flynn is the tallest footballer to play for Carlton.
Free Kicks
Carlton 20
Hawthorn 15
1. With torrential rain falling in the first quarter Hawthorn received 8 free kicks including a dubious 50 metre penalty goal.
Former Richmond co-captain Jack Riewoldt commentating on the Fox broadcast called the 50 metre decision, 'a disgrace'.
2. Carlton received just 3 free kicks, all in non scoring positions between the arcs.
At half time the count was Carlton 11 Hawthorn 9.
Front Runners
1. Bailey Macdonald (Haw) 15.0km
2. Sam Walsh 14.6km
2. Matt Cottrell 14.6km
3. Blake Hardwick (Haw) 14.5km
3. Dylan Moore (Haw) 14.5km
Disposal Efficiency
1. Jagga Smith 85%
2. Brodie Kemp 83%
2. Flynn Riley 83%
3. Nic Newman 78%
AFLCA Votes
8 - Blake Hardwick (HAW)
8 - Lloyd Meek (HAW)
6 - Jack Ginnivan (HAW)
4 - Josh Ward (HAW)
3 - Connor MacDonald (HAW)
1 - Sam Walsh (CARL)
Brownlow Votes
Best and Fairest Votes
Video
