Sunday’s AFL 2018 Round 18 match is between Carlton Blues and Hawthorn Hawks. The opening kick is set to commence at 13:10 local time with the game to be played at Etihad Stadium. The away team Hawthorn Hawks are the favourites for the match.
View our preview and teams for the game between Carlton Blues and Hawthorn Hawks.
When: 13:10 | Sunday 22/07/2018
Where: Etihad Stadium
Preview:
Hawthorn’s loss to the Lions is a big blow to their finals hope but they will win this easily this week but with James Sicily out for six weeks with a broken hand could cost them big time in the next few weeks.
Hawthorn created plenty of inside 50s in their loss to the Lions but couldn’t convert their opportunities.
They need a lift from the midfield who were smashed in clearances and contested footy.
KEY BATTLE: Tom Mitchell v Patrick Cripps
Both are ball magnets in the midfield who their teams rely on so heavily.
The Verdict
Hawthorn easily against the worst side in the competition.
The Hawks have a 12-3-1 (75.0 percent) record in matches played during July since 2015.
Unibet Odds:
Carlton Blues at $6.40
Hawthorn Hawks at $1.12
Odds:
Tip: Hawthorn Hawks at $1.14
Value Bet: First Goal Scorer: Charlie Curnow at $9.50
More Info:
Teams:
Carlton Blues: 
B: Simpson, Weitering, Shaw
HB: Thomas, Jones, E. Curnow
C: Marchbank, Cripps, O’Brien
HF: Polson, C. Curnow, Fisher
F: Petrevski-Seton, Kennedy, Pickett
FOLL: McKay, Murphy, Dow
I/C: Casboult, Wright, Silvagni, Lobbe
EMG: Graham, Rowe, Garlett, Lebois
IN: Weitering, Casboult, Lobbe, Wright
OUT: Kreuzer, Lamb, Rowe, Garlett
Hawthorn Hawks: 
B: Burton, Frawley, Stratton
HB: Brand, Gunston, Hardwick
C: Henderson, Mitchell, Smith
HF: Impey, Schoenmakers, Morrison
F: Breust, Roughead, Puopolo
FOLL: Ceglar, Howe, Shiels
I/C: Miles, Worpel, O’Meara, Whitecross
EMG: Pittonet, Duryea, Glass, O’Rourke
IN: Brand, Schoenmakers, Worpel
OUT: O’Brien, Sicily, Duryea
AFL News:
Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson admits he’s not entirely certain how the Hawks will fare without No.1 ruckman Ben McEvoy.
A nasty head clash in a win over the Western Bulldogs last week saw McEvoy undergo surgery that will sideline him for up to six matches.
It was bad timing for the eighth-ranked Hawks, who are out to consolidate their spot in the eight when they host Brisbane in Launceston on Saturday.
“It’s an untimely out for us coming up against Stef Martin,” Clarkson told reporters at Melbourne airport on Friday.
“He’s been in particularly good form for them and is a key reason why they’ve been pretty competitive through the midfield the last few weeks.”
Clarkson will adopt a committee approach at the stoppages with ruck-forward Jonathon Ceglar to be helped out by pinch-hitters Jarryd Roughead and Tim O’Brien.
Ceglar wrecked his knee in round 22 of the 2016 season and only returned to the AFL side in round 10, playing a back-up role to McEvoy.
“We’re not really certain (how he’ll go) to be fair because Cegs hasn’t done that role in isolation for a long period of time,” Clarkson said.
“There’s a little bit of the unknown for us.
“It looks a scary proposition right at the moment but sometimes the way you look at it through the week can be different on game day.”
Hawthorn made two changes to the side that smashed the Dogs by 63 points, bringing in Brendan Whitecross and O’Brien for McEvoy and Jonathan O’Rourke (quad).
The resurgent Lions, who will aim to make it three wins in a row, stuck with the same line-up that thumped Carlton by 65 points when young star Eric Hipwood kicked a career-high six goals.
Hawks milestone man James Frawley looks set for the big job on Hipwood in his 200th AFL game.
“It’s good recognition for him,” Clarkson said.
“To get to 200 games it means you’ve had to play a decade of consistent footy really. (He’s) played on some of the best forwards in the competition.
“… The way that we defend it’s not usually one-versus-one in terms of a direct opponent but (he) will find himself on Hipwood frequently thought the course of the game.
“He’s been in good form, Hipwood, but that goes for the whole Brisbane side.”
