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AAP
AAP
Roger Vaughan

Blues belt Cats by 63 points as Hawkins on crutches

Geelong's Tom Hawkins leaves the MCG on crutches after the Cats got belted by the Blues. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)

Carlton have stamped their AFL authority on a disastrous night for Geelong, with Tom Hawkins injured and Patrick Dangerfield in match review trouble.

The Blues dominated from the start on Friday to win by 63 points, with the 21.12 (138) to 11.9 (75) Carlton cakewalk continuing Geelong's mid-season slump.

It is Carlton's highest score this season and also their highest score against the Cats since the 1995 grand final - the Blues' last premiership.

In his 359th game, Hawkins had only managed three disposals against in-form Carlton key defender Jacob Weitering and has kicked just 15 goals in 12 games this season.

The Cats spearhead pushed off his left foot to go for a mark midway through the third term and was in immediate distress.

Hawkins injury
Tom Hawkins winces following his injury. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)

He hobbled off, kicking away his mouthguard in frustration on the boundary line and going straight to the rooms.

Hawkins, who needed foot surgery after Geelong's 2022 premiership, was on crutches at the end of the game.

"I can't say the news is good news, but I'm not saying the news is bad, either," coach Chris Scott said.

"It's mid-foot -- he has had a problem with his toe ... it's not the same injury.

"The experts we have don't know, so I certainly don't have anything more to add on that."

Scott was asked whether it was related to the 2022 surgery on the same foot.

"I'd encourage you not to make that leap - it's a bit like saying it's the same leg, but foot or hamstring? To make that connection I think is a little premature," he said.

The result was far removed from their last clash, when Geelong won by 13 points on April 27 for a 7-0 start.

Since then, the Cats have lost six of their last seven.

This was Dangerfield's first game in eight weeks, after suffering his second hamstring injury this season.

He racked up 17 possessions, but is certain to come under match review scrutiny for a dangerous tackle on Blues star Sam Walsh at the start of the game.

In front of 75,218 fans, the Blues were supreme.

"We had a much more balanced profile in our game ... it was probably the most balanced game we've had across all our phases," said coach Michael Voss.

Captain Patrick Cripps and ruckman Tom De Koning starred and Charlie Curnow kicked five goals.

De Koning
The De Koning brothers Sam (l) and Tom (r) enjoyed some spats in a lively duel. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)

Cripps racked up 41 possessions and 13 clearances.

Blues stopper Alex Cincotta went out of the midfield and played on Cats star Tom Stewart in a defensive forward role.

Not only did Cincotta add Stewart to his impressive list of scalps, but he kicked two goals as well.

De Koning's younger brother Sam, who has little experience in the ruck, went up against him.

While it was a one-sided contest, they had several sibling spats to keep it entertaining.

The result was far removed from their last clash, when Geelong won by 13 points on April 27 for a 7-0 start.

Danger
Patrick Dangerfield (l) will face match review scrutiny. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)

Since then, the Cats have lost six of their last seven.

Geelong forward Jeremy Cameron kicked three goals.

"We were just fighting to find ways to change the game," Scott said.

"Sometimes good teams get the better of you."

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