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Carlton coach Brendon Bolton was left to rue a costly third-quarter lapse after his side lost a thriller to Hawthorn by five points in Launceston.
Carlton coach Brendan Bolton admits he will lose some sleep as he mulls over his side's gut-wrenching five-point loss to Hawthorn.
After leading by as much as 36 points in the second quarter in Launceston, the Blues lost momentum in the third term then couldn't get their noses back in front despite a brave effort in the final minutes of a 13.15 (93) to 13.10 (88) loss.
In chaotic scenes at University of Tasmania Stadium, the sides went toe-to-toe in a frantic final term in front of 15,888 fans on Sunday.
As the clock ticked down Zac Fisher hit the post when a goal would have levelled the scores, then the Blues appeared to have one last shot at victory when Harry McKay marked just inside 50, but he was beaten by the final siren.
"I probably won't sleep tonight," Bolton said after his side slipped to a 1-5 record.
"Like all Bluebaggers we don't like any loss.
"All the players are dirty, we're dirty and you've got to learn these lessons.
"There is lots to like but we've got to like but we've got to be able to adjust in games and we failed to do so in the third."
Carlton carried the form of last week's breakthrough win over the Western Bulldogs into a first half where they rattled the Hawks with their enthusiasm and daring ball movement.
But they lost Kade Simpson to a hamstring injury at halftime and couldn't rise to the challenge of the resurgent Hawks, who kicked five goals to one in the third quarter.
The loss of Nic Newman to a knee injury in the final term made life tougher, but Bolton doesn't want anyone's sympathy for a valiant effort that fell short.
"I'm really proud of the way they played the scenario out to fight on in the end but I'm not at all satisfied," he said.
"Our guys left nothing in the tank but I don't want the conversation to be 'We lost some soldiers, they all fought hard and it was an honourable loss'.
"We fought on late but I didn't like that we didn't adjust in the third ... our first half was terrific."
Simpson, who passed Stephen Silvagni to move into fourth on the club's games played list, and Newman will undergo scans to determine the severity of their injuries.
