CARLTON     0.2   2.5   2.7    4.11   (35)

Goals: Hawthorn: J Gunston 6, L Breust 3, P Puopolo 3, B Hartung 2, B McEvoy 2, C Rioli 2, J Lewis 2, J Roughead 2, R Schoenmakers 2, D Hale, J O'Rourke, L Hodge. Carlton: A Everitt, B Boekhorst, L Jones, T Bell.

Best: Hawthorn: J Lewis, J Gunston, S Mitchell, L Hodge, B Hartung, J Gibson. Carlton: M Murphy, M Kreuzer.

Umpires: Scott Jeffery, Robert Findlay, Curtis Deboy.

Official Crowd: 26,815 at Etihad Stadium.

While Hawthorn would have enjoyed its record 138-point win, prominent broadcaster Luke Darcy labelled the non-competitive clash against Carlton as a "public relations and television disaster".

On a Friday night when more than 99,000 supporters crammed into the MCG to watch football giants Manchester City and Real Madrid, only 26,815 made the trip to Etihad Stadium to watch the Hawks take control early and hand the Blues the heaviest defeat in their history.

The Blues' previous biggest loss was by 124 points against North Melbourne in 2003. It was also the Blues' lowest score ever against the Hawks. And it was the lowest crowd between the two clubs since round two, 2000.

While the struggling Blues weren't expected to win, the non-competitive clash came at a time when there is a growing concern and debate over the style of football being played this year, which has seen television ratings slip in Melbourne.

It's also a delicate time when free-to-air networks and Foxtel are negotiating a new broadcast rights deal, with the AFL seeking a record deal of more than $1.7 billion.

Darcy, the former Bulldog and now a caller on Triple M and Channel Seven, said during his call that the clash was a "PR and television disaster".

"It's quite an eerie feeling here tonight," he said. The Blues have now lost all six of their matches in the marquee timeslot this season, and may yet have another in round 23 against the Hawks.

Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson also admitted the result was not good for the game.

"Even though we are gracious victors tonight, we don't like to see games of footy like tonight where there is such a significant margin," Clarkson said.

"It's not great for the game, but you've just got to do what you need to do to win games of footy."

The defeat could also have ramifications for Blues caretaker coach John Barker, and his aspirations to secure the top job permanently.

Hawthorn great and former club director Jason Dunstall said the Blues' lack of effort would not aid Barker's long-term aspirations. He said on Triple M: "It's the first hurdle he has hit. I have been impressed with their efforts since he took charge. This is the first time I have seen them virtually non-competitive.".

Garry Lyon added: "Let me say this, I don't think they will appoint a coach who has led them to their biggest loss in the history of their club."

On a weekend when the Blues are celebrating the 20-year anniversary of their last premiership, and club greats David Parkin and Stephen Kernahan presented the game ball, it was a sobering reminder of the major reconstructive surgery required. For the Hawks, with nine straight goals to start the game, it was another methodical step towards September. If that level continues to surge, good luck to their opponents come the pointy end of the campaign.

On this night, the Hawks did as they pleased. Midfielders Sam Mitchell, Jordan Lewis and Billy Hartung found plenty of the ball, while Jack Gunston booted six goals.

The Blues began with few, if any, hard tags on their opponents' prime movers. While Barker's plan appeared to be for his young team to learn to play in a more traditional attacking manner, it allowed their opponents to free-wheel – and there is no better team to capitalise on that freedom. Combined with a general defensive lethargy, the results of those tactics ultimately hurt Barker's hopes of securing the top job.

The Age

The Hawks also squeezed their opponents defensively, ensuring any plan to switch play was as dangerous as balancing on a tightrope. 

One possession was particularly instructive. In the shadows of half-time, Blaine Boekhorst, the Blues' top draft pick last year, had the ball on the half-back flank. Instead of looking down the ground, he opted to kick back to Kade Simpson, who unusually fumbled the pass, which was scooped up by pressure magnet Cyril Rioli, who duly converted the snap. By that stage – the Hawks' 12th goal – the almost passive applause from Hawks supporters reinforced to all that this was no longer a contest. It was all but a walkover.

The Blues, at least, hit the scoreboard in the first half with two goals – when Andrejs Everitt capitalised from a free kick midway through the second term – but it mattered little as the Hawks enjoyed their biggest half-time lead ever against Carlton.

Hawks skipper Luke Hodge ensured his team did not sleepwalk once the contest was effectively killed. He barked orders at his teammates, including making his displeasure clear to Matty Suckling when he opted to not handball to the hard-running Hartung.

With finals on the horizon, Ryan Schoenmakers continued to strengthen his role up forward but Matt Spangher's injury-interrupted season took another turn for the worse when he was subbed off because of a hamstring strain.

The Blues' frustration was evident when Nick Holman was late to spoil Luke Breust in the first term and was reported for striking. A late Liam Jones hit on Hartung will also be scrutinised.