HAWTHORN overcame a slow start to register a 26-point win over a resilient Gold Coast at Aurora Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
The 12.14 (86) to 8.10 (60) victory sends Hawthorn to the top of the ladder for the first time this season, while the Suns remain in 15th.
It didn't look like the most appetising game on paper, with Hawthorn's dominant record of winning its past 17 games in Launceston and Gold Coast's failure to win a game since round three, and the signs weren't good for the visitors shortly after the opening bounce.
The Hawks kicked the first goal of the game through Jack Gunston just 16 seconds into the opening quarter and while it looked like an ominous warning of things to come, the Suns had other ideas.
Twin towers Peter Wright and Tom Lynch were strong in attack and combined for three of the Suns' four first-quarter goals to help set up a 15-point lead at quarter-time.
Hawthorn pegged back the margin to just one point at half-time after youngster James Sicily impressed up forward and booted two goals.
The home side lifted a gear in the third term to wrestle back the lead as the Suns were held goalless.
Tom Lynch got the final quarter off to the best possible start for the Suns with a goal in the first minute, but they were unable to get the margin back within striking distance.
Gun Hawthorn midfielder Sam Mitchell racked up 35 touches, while Gold Coast captain Gary Ablett was back to his best with 39 disposals and a goal.
Sicily was the Hawks' leading goalkicker with three while Lynch led the way for the Suns with three of his own.
Hawks skipper Luke Hodge made a seamless return to playing with 28 touches in Jordan Lewis' 250th game under coach Alastair Clarkson.
MEDICAL ROOM
Hawthorn: Apart from Jarryd Roughead who is out for the season, the return of skipper Luke Hodge has made the Hawks close to full strength leading into the bye.
Gold Coast: The injury-hit Suns were without Adam Saad (hamstring tightness), Kade Kolodjashnij (concussion), Callum Ah-Chee (calf) and Jack Martin (back) against Hawthorn but all are chances against St Kilda in round 15.
NEXT UP
Hawthorn heads into the bye on top of the ladder before visiting Adelaide Oval to take on Port Adelaide, while Gold Coast has a chance to break its streak of 10 losses in a row when it plays the dangerous yet inconsistent St Kilda next Saturday at Metricon Stadium.
HAWTHORN 2.1 6.4 8.10 12.14 (86)
GOLD COAST 4.4 6.5 6.8 8.12 (60)
GOALS
Hawthorn: Sicily 3, Hartung 2, Gunston, Lewis, Ceglar, Breust, Hill, Burgoyne, Duryea
Gold Coast: Lynch 3, Wright, Matera, Ablett, Day, Harbrow
BEST
Hawthorn: Mitchell, Birchall, Gibson. Stratton, Lewis, Hodge
Gold Coast: Ablett, Lynch, Harbrow, Nicholls, Sexton
INJURIES
Hawthorn: Nil
Gold Coast: Nil
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Bannister, Hay, Meredith, Pannell
Official crowd: 10,121 at Aurora Stadium
