<p>A spicy Round 20 kicks off at the MCG with Hawthorn playing host to Carlton.</p> <p>The Hawks did the business down in Tassie against Port, getting over the line in atrocious conditions by 38 points. It was a good hitout for the Hawks, who looked to get parts of their game back in order as they begin to tune up for a September campaign.&nbsp;</p> <p>Skipper James Sicily moved as freely as he has in about a month and looked like getting back to his natural order, while key forward Mitch Lewis made a successful return from an ACL injury. A return that will no doubt leave Sam Mitchell with some headaches on what the best way to structure up the forward line is heading into the finals.</p> <p>But most importantly, Jack Ginnivan got back at Kenny Hinkley with his aeroplane goal celebration, which was a great laugh and equally well received and taken by Ken post-match.&nbsp;</p> <p>Meanwhile, Carlton finally won a game for the first time in a month!</p> <p>In a battle of the ‘who could disappoint their fans more’ against the Dees, the Blues got the pressure-releasing win they had been craving. A win led by the younger Blues, who are getting their chances at the end of the season, and backed up by the senior leaders.</p> <p>It was a best showing in Blue for young Blues’ Matt Carroll and Ashton Moir, while Lachie Cowan, Cooper Lord, and Harry O’Farrell continued to show glimpses of the players they could become.</p> <p>Patrick Cripps led from the front, and Charlie Curnow finally hit the scoreboard in a major way with three goals after going goalless for the previous month, including the sealer from beyond the 50m arc.</p> <p>It’s a quick turnaround, and not much time to bask in the glory of a win for the Blues, especially with the Hawks hunting a top-four spot.&nbsp;</p> <p>A win for the Hawks will put them temporarily in the top four (until Geelong and Fremantle play) but, they will be eying this game against the Blues, who they put to the sword late last year when they were chasing wins and percentage, as a chance to gain some percentage which will become crucial when it comes to finals placings.&nbsp;</p> <p>For the Blues, there will be impetus to win for their vice-captain and defensive general Jacob Weitering, who will play his 200th AFL game. If not for that, then for one of their favourite sons Sam Docherty, who has announced his retirement and will play his final game against the Hawks.</p> <p>At selection, it will be interesting to see how both sides structure up, with both teams coming off a five-day break from their previous match.</p> <p>Hawthorn will receive a massive boost with gun midfielder Will Day set to make his return after three months off with a stress fracture in his foot. He’s likely to be a straight swap for stopper Finn Maginness, who suffered a lacerated kidney during the game and will miss several weeks.&nbsp;</p> <p>Key forward Mabior Chol, who was managed for the trip to Tassie with groin soreness, but there remain doubts on whether he will get up for this week's game despite the rest.&nbsp;</p> <p>For the Blues, Francis Evans will miss the clash with concussion after his brutal collision with Steven May. Blake Acres and Hudson O’Keefe were managed from the Blues VFL side with the short turnaround in mind, and there will be chances to come in.</p> <p>There is also a chance that spearhead Harry McKay could make his return after a lingering knee injury has kept him out since the bye.</p> <p>For the latest team news, analysis, odds, and betting tips, check out our Hawks vs Blues prediction and preview below.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Hawthorn vs Carlton Predicted Teams</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Hawthorn Predicted Team List</h3> <p>B: James Sicily, Tom Barass, Jack Scrimshaw</p> <p>HB: Jarman Impey, Josh Battle, Blake Hardwick</p> <p>C: Massimo D’Ambrosio, Josh Ward, Karl Amon</p> <p>HF: Nick Watson, Mitch Lewis, Dylan Moore</p> <p>F: Jack Ginnivan, Jack Gunston, Connor Macdonald</p> <p>Foll: Lloyd Meek, Will Day, Jai Newcombe</p> <p>Int: Conor Nash, Harry Morrison, Bailey Macdonald, Calsher Dear, James Worpel</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Carlton Predicted Team List</h3> <p>B: Harry O’Farrell, Jacob Weitering, Matt Carroll</p> <p>HB: Lachie Cowan, Nick Haynes, Adam Saad</p> <p>C: Ollie Hollands, Patrick Cripps, Zac Williams</p> <p>HF: Lachie Fogarty, Charlie Curnow, Ashton Moir</p> <p>F: Jesse Motlop, Tom De Koning, Will White</p> <p>Foll: Marc Pittonet, Adam Cerra, George Hewett</p> <p>Int: Blake Acres, Cooper Lord, Flynn Young, Corey Durdin, Sam Docherty</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Hawthorn vs Carlton Prediction &amp; Betting Tips</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Head-to-Head Prediction</h3> <p>The Blues hold sway in the recent head-to-head with three wins from the past five matches, but the Hawks have won the last two times they’ve met.&nbsp;</p> <p>The most recent battle, Round 2 this year, where the Blues led at half-time and then, true to form, didn’t reemerge from the rooms after the main break.&nbsp;</p> <p>The Hawks' defensive game is coming good at the right time of year, justifying the big spending on both Josh Battle and Tom Barass in the off-season. Now ranked the third-best defensive profile overall, the Hawks are third for points against and have elevated themselves to be ranked first in defending opposition ball movement between the arcs.&nbsp;</p> <p>The simplest way to beat Carlton these days is to turn the game into an uncontested game with a high number of uncontested marks and picking through the Blues’ zone. It's something the Hawks did back in Round 2 and should do comfortably here again.</p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/australian-rules/afl/hawthorn-v-carlton-9409461">Hawks</a>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>First Goal Prediction</h3> <p>Son of a gun, Calsher Dear put his name up in lights during last year's demolition of the Blues, announcing himself as a key forward of the future with a career-best three goals.&nbsp;</p> <p>After an aborted comeback earlier in the year from a long injury layoff, he made a strong return against the Power in sub-optimal conditions and returned an impressive 2.2.</p> <p>In better conditions, A favourable matchup and the Blues’ tendencies to give up early goals in quarters, we’re backing him to hit the board first here.</p> <p>Betting tip: <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/australian-rules/afl/hawthorn-v-carlton-9409461">Calsher Dear</a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Most Disposals Prediction</h3> <p>There’s going to be some high disposal counts here. Reason 1 - the Blues will overpossess the ball, and Reason 2 - the Hawks are good enough to pick their way through the Blues with their uncontested marks and slick handballs.&nbsp;</p> <p>Jarman Impey is one of the first starters for the Hawks off halfback, setting the game up, and even found himself forward last week to prove his danger around the big sticks when given the chance to let fly.&nbsp;</p> <p>He’s our pick for topping the disposal count here.&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Betting tip: </strong><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/australian-rules/afl/hawthorn-v-carlton-9409461">Jarman Impey 30+ disposals</a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Hawthorn Hawks vs Carlton Blues Match Details</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Date:</strong> Thursday, July 25, 2025</p> <p><strong>First Bounce:</strong> 7:30pm AEST</p> <p><strong>Location:</strong> MCG, Melbourne</p> <p><strong>How to watch:</strong> Channel 7, Fox Footy/ Kayo Sports</p>