AFL Round 2 gets underway on Thursday night with a heavyweight clash between Carlton and Hawthorn at the MCG. The Blues are coming off a horror loss against the Tigers and must now front up against one of the premiership favourites in the Hawks. It should be an entertaining clash, and we have you covered with a full preview, best bet, and Same Game Multi below!
Also, Before You Bet will be providing free previews and betting tips for EVERY game in the 2025 AFL season, so make sure to head over to out our AFL Tips regularly to keep up to date with all of our free content.
Carlton vs Hawthorn
Location: MCG – Melbourne
Date: Thursday, 20th March
Time: 7:30pm AEDT
Odds: Carlton ($3.05) vs Hawthorn ($1.37)
Line: Hawthorn -16.5
Points: 165.5
Odds and lines provided with thanks to BoomBet. Note that odds and lines can fluctuate throughout the week, and are correct at the time of writing.
Match Preview
Carlton and Hawthorn kick off Round 2 in what’s already shaping up as a crucial game, especially for the Blues. The Hawks have hit the ground running with back-to-back wins, taking down last year’s runners-up, Sydney, in Opening Round before backing it up against Essendon last weekend. Carlton, on the other hand, had a nightmare start to their season, blowing a 41-point lead against Richmond and losing to a side many tipped to finish at the bottom. Talk of a premiership push has quickly taken a back seat for the Blues, and now they have to respond against a Hawthorn team that looks full of confidence.
The Blues' collapse against the Tigers was as shocking as it gets. They looked in complete control early, dominating contested possessions and piling on inside 50s, but everything fell apart after quarter-time. Richmond ran all over them, booting 12 of the next 14 goals as Carlton’s defence crumbled under pressure. Their ball use going forward was just as bad, constantly turning promising entries into wasted chances. Harry McKay struggled as the main target without Charlie Curnow, kicking just one goal, and the small forwards failed to make much of an impact. The only real positive was Tom De Koning, who was massive in the ruck with 28 disposals, but one standout performance wasn’t enough to stop the collapse.
The good news for Carlton is that Curnow is set to return, which should straighten them up in attack. He takes the best defender and allows McKay to play with more freedom, something they badly missed last week. But fixing the forward line won’t mean much if their defence doesn’t tighten up. Richmond’s small forwards had a field day, punishing Carlton every time the ball hit the deck, and the Hawks have even more firepower in that area. The Blues need to be much sharper defensively and make the most of their chances going forward, or they’ll be in for another long night.
Hawthorn, meanwhile, couldn’t have asked for a much better start to 2025. They were outplayed in clearances and contested possessions against Essendon but still managed to win by 26 points thanks to their elite efficiency inside 50. Despite losing the inside 50 count by 10, they racked up 111 points, making the most of every chance. Their small forwards were the difference, with Nick Watson, Dylan Moore, Jack Ginnivan, and Blake Hardwick all kicking at least two goals after a quiet Opening Round. If they bring that same efficiency against Carlton’s shaky defence, they’ll be hard to stop.
The only real setback for the Hawks was Jack Scrimshaw’s three-game suspension, although he was already ruled out of this one with concussion. Changkuoth Jiath is in line for a potential return after building form in the reserves, while James Worpel is still a couple of weeks away. But even without them, Hawthorn’s system looks rock solid. They’ve already shown they can win games without dominating the contest, and their ability to absorb pressure before striking on the counter makes them a dangerous side.
When these teams met last season, the Hawks embarrassed the Blues, winning by 74 points in a one-sided contest at the MCG. While Carlton should be more competitive this time, it’s hard to be confident in them after last week’s disaster. Hawthorn’s small forwards will be licking their lips at the prospect of facing a defence that just got torched by Richmond, and the Hawks’ efficiency going forward has been off the charts so far. Unless Carlton can fix their defensive structure and convert their chances, it’s hard to see them keeping up. The Hawks should get the job done and cover the -15.5 spread.
Hawthorn -15.5
$1.90 (1.5 Units)
Same Game Multi
Throughout the 2025 AFL season we’ll be putting together a fun same game multi for every match at BoomBet using their BetShare feature.
To follow our multi, just click on the BoomBet BetShare button below and our same game multi selections will be added straight into your bet slip on BoomBet. You can then enter how much you wish to wager, and with a single click, your bet has been placed!
Hawthorn to Win – As above, the Hawks should be too strong and I’m happy to include them in a SGM for some added value.
Nick Watson 2+ Goals – Loves the open spaces of the MCG and I expect the Hawks small forward to get plenty of opportunities against the Blues seemingly shaky defence.
Jack Ginnivan 2+ Goals – Doubling down on the Hawks small forwards by backing in Ginnivan as well. He should get his chances to hit the scoreboard.
SGM Odds: $4.10 at BoomBet
