Hawthorn faced a tense situation regarding Connor Macdonald’s injury after he was substituted out during the second quarter of their match against Carlton, in which the Hawks ultimately triumphed 12.8 (80) to 8.12 (60). The incident occurred when Macdonald was tackled by George Hewett, causing his leg to twist awkwardly beneath him. Following the injury, Jack Gunston was brought into the game as Macdonald was escorted off the field by a trainer.
Commentator David King highlighted Macdonald’s significance to the team, labelling him a “big loss” due to his skills as an effective ball user in the forward line. This incident has sparked discussions about the implications of recent rule changes in the game, particularly the prohibition of sling tackles aimed at reducing head injuries. Leigh Montagna noted that the tackle on Macdonald could be viewed as a “consequence” of the ongoing changes to tackle regulations, emphasising the difficulty for players to safely bring opponents to the ground without certain tackling techniques.
AFL legend Jason Dunstall echoed this sentiment, suggesting that the rules should allow for some tackling flexibility to prevent significant alterations to the game dynamics.
In terms of the match itself, Hawthorn secured the first score at the MCG, but Carlton quickly countered with an attempt from ruckman Tom De Koning, which was called back due to a free kick against Jack Silvagni. The opening quarter concluded with the Hawks holding a narrow two-point advantage, which shifted to a Carlton lead by the half-time interval. Following a tightly contested third quarter, Hawthorn pulled ahead and dominated the final stanza, ultimately sealing their victory and beginning the season undefeated. Meanwhile, Carlton has now faced two consecutive losses.
Throughout the match, Mabior Chol shone for Hawthorn, scoring three goals, whilst Jai Newcombe excelled with 32 disposals. Carlton’s standout players included Pat Cripps, Adam Cerra, and Hewett, each contributing prominently in the disposal count.