Hawthorn has overcome a sluggish start to beat Gold Coast by 53 points in their AFL clash in Launceston.

The Hawks trailed by nine points at quarter-time but did enough to topple the fading Suns in the 13.18 (96) to 5.13 (43) win on Saturday in front of 9007 fans.

Hawthorn's third straight victory puts it into the top eight pending other weekend results, while the battling Suns have lost eight in a row.

Both teams sprayed countless set shots throughout the afternoon, including several from in front.

Jack Gunston kicked three and Luke Bruest two for the Hawks, while Liam Shiels finished with a game-high 33 touches.

Despite the final margin, the Suns dominated territory early, with talls Tom Lynch and Peter Wright combining for three opening-term goals.

Gold Coast fell away, though, only scoring 0.5 in the middle quarters.

Hawthorn took a 37-24 lead into half-time, punctuated just before the break by a Taylor Duryea screamer.

The Suns rallied somewhat late in the third quarter but squandered their chances, missing three kickable set shots in a row.

Hawthorn found their radar in the dying stages, with skipper Jarryd Roughead icing the win with a major from the final kick of the day.

Shaun Burgoyne sat out the last quarter with ice on his hamstring.

HAWTHORN     2.1   5.7    8.13   13.18 (96)
GOLD COAST SUNS     3.4   3.6    3.9   5.13 (43)

GOALS
Hawthorn: Gunston 3, Breust 2, Howe, Shiels, Puopolo, O’Meara, Burgoyne, Smith, O’Brien, Roughead
Gold Coast: Lynch 2, Wright 2, Sexton

BEST 
Hawthorn:  Shiels, O’Meara, Mitchell, Breust, Impey, Gunston
Gold Coast: Lyons, Swallow, Martin, Harbrow, Miller

INJURIES 
Hawthorn: Burgoyne (hamstring)
Gold Coast: Day (shoulder)

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Stevic, Stephens, Gavine, Whetton

Official crowd:  9007 at University of Tasmania Stadium