"We matched it with them for most of the game".

Key AFLW defender Harriet Cordner, was a crucial component to the Blues backline on Saturday night's game against the Hawks.

She produced 22 disposals, 13 intercept possessions and 10 marks, as she worked hard in the back to gain an attacking position for the Blues, topping the Round 2 coaches' votes with eight. Also featuring in the eyes of the coaches was Breann Harrington (four votes).

Cordner spoke to Carlton Media post-match, praising the team's defence.

"We knew they'd be really good in the contest," she said.

"We really wanted to hunt the ball and I think we did that really well in patches, probably didn't make the most of our opportunities up forward

"But the way we move the ball, we've been going after that all pre-season, and I think we showed glimpses of that as well, we just want to be able to do that for longer.

"We didn't let them kick a goal in that second quarter and we were really proud of that, just the way we defended, had some really good, D 50 tackles and kind of pressure acts right even on the goal line, which we were really proud of."

Fellow senior player Darcy Vescio, has recently rotated into the Blues backline with great success. Vescio produced five tackles, as they worked alongside Cordner to lead the Blues' defence. 

The backline worked hard to transfer the ball back into the midfield to produce 27 inside 50s, with Cordner crediting the midfielders in what was a highly-contested game.

"We've got Darcy back there as well this year, which is a real help. They provide so much rebound off the backline, so I think we're starting to work out how each other play, and I'm looking forward to doing that again against Brisbane next week," she said.

"I'm always in awe of what the midfield do. I think their ability to just go and win the ball and crash and bash... It felt like Hawthorn brought the heat inside and I really thought our midfielders, all of them, matched that."

After being down the majority of the game, the Blues brought the scores even in the fourth quarter, but ultimately fell short by eight points.

Carlton will now look ahead to its Round 3 clash against the Lions in Brisbane on Sunday.

"I think we're feeling a mixture of disappointment and real excitement, because I think we showed some real growth tonight," Cordner said.

"We look back 12 months ago when we played Hawthorn out here at Kinetic Stadium. It was a really different look, so we're feeling pretty confident with what we produced, but a bit disappointed to not get the win tonight.

"We'll come in on Monday and we'll review tonight and it's really important that we look at what we did really well and celebrate those things.

"This year we're going after growth, so we will look at the pieces of the game where we didn't execute the way we wanted to, and we'll dive into that on Monday, and then come Tuesday it will be all about Brisbane."

Hawthorn v Carlton coaches' votes:

8 Harriet Cordner (CARL)
6 Emily Bates (HAW)
5 Lucy Wales (HAW)
4 Breann Harrington (CARL)
4 Eliza West (HAW)
3 Najwa Allen (HAW)