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The stage is set for an exciting Thursday night clash at the MCG as the Carlton Blues take on the high-flying Hawthorn Hawks in Round 2 of the 2025 AFL Season.
Carlton will be desperate to respond after a disappointing second-half collapse against the Tigers last week. Richmond’s relentless pressure and intensity caught the Blues off guard, leading to a 82-69 defeat. Michael Voss’s side will need to find another gear if they want to avoid back-to-back losses.
Meanwhile, the Hawks—dubbed the “Hollywood Hawks”—have started the season in style, winning their first two matches, including an impressive 111-85 victory over Essendon. Despite the dominant display, coach Sam Mitchell stressed in his post-game press conference that there’s still plenty of improvement to be made. However, it was their slick ball movement and elite skills that left the Bombers chasing shadows.
Will the Blues rise to the challenge and bring the pressure? Or will Hawthorn’s elite ball users put on another show under the MCG lights?
Here is a Carlton vs Hawthorn Prediction for Round 2 of the 2025 AFL Season.
Be sure to check back before each AFL Match for AFL Tips, AFL Predictions, AFL Picks, AFL Previews, AFL Tipping and AFL Quick Facts for each match of the 2025 AFL Season.
Carlton vs Hawthorn
Venue – MCG
Bouncedown – 7.30pm EST
2025 Season Record
| Team | W-L-D | Home | Away |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carlton | 0-1-0 | 0-0 | 0-1 |
| Hawthorn | 2-0-0 | 1-0 | 1-0 |
2025 Season Scoring
| Team | Pts | Opp Pts | Game Total Ave |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carlton | 69 | 82 | 151 |
| Hawthorn | 103.5 | 80.5 | 184 |
Quick Game Facts
- Hawthorn has been unstoppable at the MCG, winning their last seven matches at the iconic ground – they’ll be looking to continue their strong MCG form
- Patrick Cripps is in red-hot form for Carlton, recording 30+ disposals in each of the Blues’ last four games – expect him to dominate the midfield again
- Karl Amon has been a consistent performer for Hawthorn, racking up 20+ disposals in 13 of their last 14 matches – a vital cog in the Hawks’ engine room!
Prediction
A big game for Thursday Night Footy, with rain and a wet surface expected to play a role. The Hawks impressed last week against the Bombers with their elite ball use, but the wet conditions could impact their slick style. Carlton struggled with pressure in their second-half collapse against the Tigers, but they’ll no doubt have a plan to respond. This shapes as a potential bounce-back game for the Blues, especially with gun forward Charlie Curnow back in the lineup. However, with the Hawks in top form, they’ll be tough to tip against!
Prediction – Hawthorn (Win) ✔
AFL Tips and AFL Predictions, Round 1 Sunday March 16th 2025