Australian Football

Match Report

To beat Hawthorn twice in a season is perhaps no longer the achievement that it once was but nevertheless it is an important one that the Gold Coast Suns have managed for the first time in their brief existence. Having thrashed the Hawks at Carrara in round three, the Suns were expected to have a tougher time of it this time around at the MCG, Hawthorn's home ground, but, after an even first quarter, they gradually got on top and withstood a late challenge to prevail by 16 points.

Hawthorn had the better of the early stages of the first quarter, with a goal to Jack Gunston and behinds to Paul Puopolo and Tim O'Brien giving the home side an early eight-point lead. The Suns worked their way into the match soon after and, after a brace of behinds, a goal to Gary Ablett had scores level after 10 minutes. Ricky Henderson broke free to kick truly and restore the lead for Hawthorn but the Suns had the better of the latter stages of the first term, with late goals to Tom Lynch and Brandon Matera giving them a seven-point quarter-time lead.

A mark and goal to Michael Barlow followed by the same from Peter Wright extended Gold Coast's lead to 20 points early in the second quarter, but the two sides traded in behinds only until the stroke of time on when Hawk Tom Mitchell goaled to cut the margin to 15 points. Another Hawthorn goal to Kade Stewart reduced the deficit to nine points but a late goal to Lynch - his second had the Suns ahead by 15 at the half. 

The Hawks had a chance to make inroads into their deficit early in the third quarter but a rushed shot from Gunston under pressure missed, and when Sean Lemmens marked and goaled at the three-minute mark, the Suns' lead was out to 20 points. The visitors began to dominate after that and, after behinds to Aaron Hall and Ben Ainsworth, another major to Jarryd Lyons had Gold Coast ahead by a game-high 28 points.

A free kick and goal to Ablett took it even further to 34 points, before Gunston's second gave the Hawks brief respite, reducing the difference to 28. From there, though, the Suns responded with majors to Jack Martin and Matera taking the margin to 43 points, before two late Hawthorn goals through Isaac Smith and Ben McEvoy gave Hawthorn some hope going into the final break, the Hawks' deficit 32 points.

Having kicked the last two majors of the third term, Hawthorn proceeded to kick the first two of the last - both to Tim O'Brien - to reduce the margin to 19 points and create doubts in the minds of the Suns' players. The visitors had chances to reduce the pressure but Adam Saad and Lyons both missed, and when Gunston added his third and fourth goals, the Hawks were within nine points and carrying the momentum. 

Early in time on third-gamer Ben Ainsworth marked and had a chance to extend the margin to 15 points. His shot missed, but the Hawks were controversially penalised 50 metres when Kaiden Brand was deemed to have crossed the mark. Ainsworth did not miss with his second chance from the goal square, and Peter Wright 'sealed the deal' with another major soon after. Gunston's third for the term cut the margin back to 15 but time ran out for Hawthorn, the Suns triumphant by 16 points.

Gary Ablett, who was the subject of some criticism earlier this year, has answered his detractors emphatically in recent weeks and he was at his best in this match, collecting 37 possessions and laying 10 tackles. For Hawthorn, Mitchell (39 disposals, eight tackles) and Gunston (five goals, 12 marks) were among the best. 

The Suns, now within a game of the top eight, have another winnable game coming up next Saturday night, a home encounter against Carlton. Hawthorn has slipped back to second-last on the table, with a bye to come in round 13, followed by a tough ask on Thursday week - the Crows at the Adelaide Oval.

GOALS
Hawthorn: Gunston 5; O'Brien 2; Henderson, Mitchell, Stewart, Smith, McEvoy
Gold Coast: Lynch, Ablett, Matera, Wright 2; Barlow, Lemmens, Lyons, Martin, Ainsworth

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
Hawthorn: Mitchell, Gunston, Hartung, Smith, Burgoyne, Henderson
Gold Coast: Ablett, Lyons, Barlow, Witts, Swallow, May

BEST - THE AGE
Hawthorn: Gunston, Burgoyne, Mitchell, Smith, O'Brien
Gold Coast: Ablett, May, Hall, Saad, Lynch, Swallow, Hanley

INJURIES
Hawthorn: Gibson (adductor), Hodge (groin) replaced in the selected side by Stewart
Gold Coast: Miller (illness) replaced in the selected side by Lonergan

UMPIRES: Fisher, Deboy, Chamberlain, Meredith

TELEVISION BROADCAST: Fox Footy

COMMENTATORS: Anthony Hudson, Jonathan Brown, Matthew Pavlich, Ben Dixon