HAWTHORN sent off triple-premiership heroes Ben Stratton and Paul Puopolo in style, handing Gold Coast a 51-point drubbing.
Puopolo had Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson beaming and clapping early with an outstanding dribble-kick goal from the forward pocket in just the second minute, before doubling his tally just moments later.
The 32-year-old Puopolo (three goals) finished with his biggest tally since 2018, as the Hawks set up the 17.6 (108) to 8.9 (57) victory with a seven-goal first quarter.
The departing skipper Stratton had kicked just one goal in his career against Sydney in 2010, way back in his 17th game.
Stratton was moved to full-forward with just five minutes left in the game and quickly slotted a goal before being mobbed by all his teammates.
Jack Gunston (four goals) helped hand Hawthorn its fifth win of the year, but the victory just papered over the disappointment the Hawks would be feeling after finishing in the bottom four on the ladder.
The positives were few and far between for the Suns, although Noah Anderson (25 disposals) finished his first season on a high.
Gold Coast debutant Jy Farrar not only joined the 'first kick, first goal' club but raised the bar with an outstanding running snap from the forward pocket in one of the few Suns highlights for the day.
The Suns ended their season with three losses on the trot, but what was more disappointing was the lack of competitiveness Gold Coast showed for long stretches of the match.
End of an era for two flag heroes
Isaac Smith now stands as the last draft pick playing for Hawthorn from either the 2009 or 2010 NAB AFL Drafts after the Hawks bid farewell to Stratton and Puopolo. The skipper Stratton bows out with 202 games to his name, while the high-flying Puopolo reached 196 games. Hawthorn used its early picks in 2009 and 2010 to trade for the likes of Shaun Burgoyne, Josh Gibson and David Hale, but it was the shrewd late selections of Stratton (pick No.46 in 2009) and Puopolo (pick No.66 in 2010) that took the Hawks from a great team to one of the all-time dynasties.
More of Moore?
Young Hawk Dylan Moore has managed just 10 games across his first two years in the League but headed into the final round without a contract for 2021. After coming back into the team in round 16, Moore was yet to set the world on fire but certainly proved he's worth another look with a career-best outing against the Suns. Moore kicked one goal and gathered 15 disposals in his previous best game in round nine last year but easily eclipsed that with 25 disposals and a goal.
Dew's 2020 a success
The Suns finished 2019 dead last with just three wins with a percentage of just 60.5. It's clear Suns coach Stuart Dew has taken his side to the next level, finishing with almost double the wins of last season and a much improved 90.6 per cent. Gold Coast now has a settled forward and backline, while the midfield depth looks far stronger than it did in years prior. It's far too early to proclaim the Suns will be pushing for a finals spot next year, but that goal seems far more realistic now than it would have at the end of 2019.
HAWTHORN 7.1 9.3 13.6 17.6 (108)
GOLD COAST 1.1 3.5 5.5 8.9 (57)
GOALS
Hawthorn: Gunston 4, Puopolo 3, O'Brien 2, Breust 2, Lewis 2, Shiels, Moore, Burgoyne, Stratton
Gold Coast: Sexton 3, Farrar, King, Rankine, Day, Greenwood
BEST
Hawthorn: Gunston, Mitchell, Puopolo, Moore, Cousins, Shiels
Gold Coast: Swallow, Anderson, Sexton, Miller, Greenwood, Ainsworth
INJURIES
Hawthorn: Nil
Gold Coast: Nil
