Carlton captain Marc Murphy will have surgery on Monday for the fractured cheekbone he suffered in Friday night’s AFL loss to Hawthorn.

Murphy suffered the injury in a heavy clash with his Hawks counterpart Luke Hodge as they went for the ball in the second term at Etihad Stadium and will most likely miss several weeks.

While Blues coach Mick Malthouse said it was an accident, he was bemused Murphy did not receive a free kick for the high contact.

Malthouse was bristling with anger after the 15-point loss and directed much of his frustration at the umpires.

The free kick count went against Carlton 22-13, including 14-4 in the second half.

“That says something, doesn’t it? I don’t know what it says, but it says 14-4,” Malthouse said.

He added the Blues were “bamboozled” by how the umpires had ruled some incorrect disposal incidents in their past few games.

While Hodge should be cleared for the Murphy incident, the match review panel will also look at his clash with Lachie Henderson later in the second term.

Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson backed Hodge, praising him for his fierce approach to the game.

“I’ve never seen Luke Hodge do anything untoward in his life in terms of the way he plays his footy,” Clarkson said.

“The footy is there and he just goes hard at it.

“Good luck if anyone is in his way and sometimes that’s even his teammates.”

It was a fierce and pulsating match, with Carlton putting the Hawks under significant pressure.

But they could not kill them off.

The inside-50s were even, but Carlton were unable to make the most of their opportunities.

Malthouse ruefully noted at the other end, Hawks key forward Lance Franklin and Jarryd Roughead kicked four goals apiece.

“When you have … Franklin and Roughead at one end, they tend to show you that’s what you have to do,” Malthouse said.

It was Hawthorn’s 10th-straight win this season and also their 10th win in a row over the Blues.

Hawthorn returned to top spot and Carlton sit just inside the top eight with a 6-6 record.

Clarkson praised Carlton’s performance on Friday night, while noting it was the second-straight week they had lost after controlling the game early.

“It was just about persevering,” Clarkson said of his team’s grinding win.

The Hawks coach said Franklin suffered a jarred hand, but said it was not serious.