Carlton has unleashed a stunning final quarter onslaught to snatch a six-point victory from Hawthorn in a thrilling AFL match at Telstra Dome.

Trailing by 18 points at three-quarter time, the Blues kicked four goals in the opening 11 minutes of the final term to put themselves into the lead and eventually run out 13.11 (89) to 12.11 (83) winners.

Carlton found an unlikely hero in forward Jarrad Waite, who kicked five goals to keep his side in the contest when it was being beaten all ends up by the Hawks.

But it was two goals apiece in the final term to both Lance Whitnall and Eddie Betts which proved pivotal in the Blues overrunning the Hawks, who had led at every change.

Whitnall kicked two goals in two minutes early, before Betts gave his side the lead at the 11-minute mark.

Betts then kicked another - his third of the game - to tie the scores going into time-on as the sides went goal for goal through the latter stages of the term.

Full forward Mark Williams kicked four goals for the Hawks, who should have had the game sewn up by three-quarter time.

After dominating the first quarter and watching the Blues rack up mistake after mistake, the Hawks then made a series of errors of their own in the second to let Carlton back into the game.

Only Waite's efforts for a Blues side, which struggled for most of the match without suspended spearhead Brendan Fevola, kept Carlton in the game.

Waite kicked three of his side's four goals to halftime and deservedly won the David Parkin Medal for best-on-ground for his performance.

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP