Brendan Fevola came so close to putting Carlton in front, but his hit-the-post behind capped a dramatic four-point AFL win for Hawthorn.

Fevola and Hawks key forward Jarryd Roughead kicked eight goals apiece on Saturday at the MCG as the Hawks won a pulsating clash 16.10 (106) to 15.12 (102).

A crowd of 69,014, a home-and-away record for Hawthorn-Carlton, witnessed a classic.

A week after Essendon somehow overran Collingwood on Anzac Day, Carlton came from 25 points behind at 18 minutes into the last term.

Fevola, who suffered a broken nose in the second quarter, kicked two of Carlton's last three goals.

A superb run through the centre by Dennis Armfield then set up another mark for the Blues full-forward.

With just over a minute left in the game, Fevola kicked from 20m out on a 45-degree angle.

Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson admitted he thought his side was "shot" as Fevola lined up but the ball somehow clipped the post.

Hawthorn then held on for a crucial win that leaves them with a 3-3 record, the first time in their injury-plagued premiership defence that they have as many wins as losses.

"We were half-celebrating (in the coaches' box), I was fully celebrating and the next minute you look at the replay, it's done a nosedive and clipped the post, that's footy," said Blues coach Brett Ratten.

Fevola was shattered at the final siren, lying flat on the ground, holding his head.

"It just nicked the side of the post and obviously my heart sunk after that. I still can't believe I missed it but that's footy I suppose, what can you do?," Fevola said.

Ratten would have nothing of any blame being directed at Fevola for the loss, saying his game was outstanding.

Clarkson was relieved post-match after a see-sawing contest.

"It was that way all day ... we probably should have been headed in the last 30 seconds of the game," he said.

"We've been searching for a bit of luck over the first part of the season and we finally got it today."

Significantly for the Hawks, it was also the first time this season they had not suffered an injury in a game or at training during the week.

While Fevola has kicked eight in a game, this was a personal record for Roughead.

So often the second fiddle to Lance Franklin in Hawthorn's attack, Roughead was outstanding just a fortnight after he only managed one kick against Port Adelaide.

"He's such a big figure in our forward half for us - they put a lot of planning into Franklin and that's the beauty of our forward line, we've got multiple options," Clarkson said.

Carlton were left ruing their inability to convert chances in the first half, when they had 31 inside 50s to 19, but trailed at half-time by nine points.

Fevola missed a couple of easy chances before he kicked five in the second half.

The loss capped an emotional week for Carlton, after the death of former president Richard Pratt.

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