CARLTON has gutsed out a 12-point win over Hawthorn in a game that did not stop raining from siren to siren.

The Blues led for the entirety of the game, racing out to a three-goal lead at quarter-time, and were never headed in the 5.6 (36) to 3.6 (24) result, even as the Hawks peppered their own attacking 50.

BLUES v HAWKS Full match coverage and stats

The forecast wasn't promising even a few days out from the game, and the rain teemed down at Ikon Park, with a few hardy fans in ponchos braving the boundary line.

This was not the game for delicate kicks, set plays and fancy handball chains.

Like the men's edition between these two clubs earlier this year at the MCG, this was wet-weather footy at its purest – see ball, get ball, bomb ball as far as you can and hope for the best.

It took eight minutes for a score, and it was Sophie McKay who got the Blues off to the perfect start, quickly followed by Dayna Finn and Erone Fitzpatrick – all three goals coming in general play, directly in front of the big sticks, as Hawthorn's defence struggled to stay afloat.

Such were the conditions, just 14 marks were taken in the first term between the two sides, while 52 tackles were laid.

Poppy Stockwell got the Hawks on the board during the second term, as her side began to control more of the general play and lock it in its forward half, holding the Blues scoreless in the process.

The rewards started to come for Hawthorn in the third term. With the rain continuing to teem down, Stockwell saluted for her second, and Kaitlyn Ashmore tied things up a minute later.

But Carlton ceded the lead for less than 30 seconds, Irish speedster Erone Fitzpatrick relishing the familiar conditions to kick Carlton clear again.

Hawthorn was dominating the inside-50 count to three-quarter time, leading 43-20, but trailed by eight points, unable to make meaningful entries in attack (albeit in difficult weather).

It took until the 10th minute of the final quarter for Carlton to finally establish the match-winning lead, with Keeley Sherar sneaking out the back, while Greta Bodey tried to pull off a miracle three-soccer effort down the other end that was touched on the line.

Lily Goss had an occasional run-with role on Hawthorn ball-winner Eliza West, who finished with 20 touches, while Carlton captain Abbie McKay was superb with a game-high 33 disposals and six clearances.

Surprise recruit of the year?
Small forward Stockwell has previously represented Western Australia in cricket as a wicketkeeper and batter, but it's her form with the Sherrin that's caught the eye. She played two games for Fremantle as a replacement player last year, before being delisted, and Hawthorn pounced for its own injury cover. A natural forward, she already had six goals to her name before Thursday night, and added another two in the wet.

The ladder now
Things are a likely to be a little tighter for Hawthorn after the close loss. If Fremantle beats West Coast in the Western Derby on Sunday, the Hawks will be four points adrift of the top eight. Carlton has leapt back into the top four and remain well and truly in touch with the competition's pacesetters.

Up next
Both teams have a longer break, not playing until Sunday after their Thursday night match the week prior. Hawthorn host Brisbane at the Kennedy Community Centre for its Pride Round home match, while Carlton travel to Henson Park to take on the in-form Sydney.

CARLTON         3.1   3.1   4.4   5.6   (36)
HAWTHORN     0.0   1.1   3.2   3.6   (24)

GOALS
Carlton: Fitzpatrick 2, S.McKay, Finn, Sherar 
Hawthorn: Stockwell 2, Ashmore

BEST
Carlton: A.McKay, Fitzpatrick, Whitfort, Sherar, Hill, Scholz
Hawthorn: West, Wales, Richardson, Stockwell, Stone, Fleming

INJURIES
Carlton: Nil
Hawthorn: Nil

Crowd: 2,037 at Ikon Park