It was a difficult weekend for a myriad of reasons, with the AFL side dealt a tough blow against Gold Coast, while the Victorian COVID-19 outbreak meant that the Hawks' remaining teams were unable to get out on the park.

Despite all this, there was still cause for celebration as we recognised the incredible achievements of the league's Indigenous players, past and present.

Hawks fail to rise to the Suns' challenge

It was Gold Coast from start to finish at the SCG on Saturday night, as Stuart Dew's men piled on the first four goals of the match, and ultimately finished 37-point victors.

The Hawks failed the find answers for the Suns' forward duo in Ben King and Izak Rankine, who both finished with four goals apiece, while Touk Miller ran amok through the centre, amassing 37 touches.

The Hawks showed patches of competitiveness, including three goals in a row late in the first term. Chad Wingard worked hard all evening, finishing with 24 disposals, while young Dylan Moore can also hold his head high after his two-goal, 18 touch performance.

Ned Reeves was commendable in just his second AFL game, finishing with 35 touches and booting his first goal - a feat Damon Greaves also enjoyed.

However in the end, it was the consistency of the Suns that prevailed, with the Hawks unable to match their intent over four quarters.

COVID-19 outbreak results in postponement of all community sport

It was a quiet weekend in Victoria, with everyone remaining inside their homes due to the latest COVID-19 outbreak and resulting lockdown.

This meant that the Hawks' VFL, VFLW and wheelchair football games were all unable to go ahead.

Both the Box Hill Hawks and Hawthorn women were fixtured for big home ground clashes against Port Melbourne Borough, while the VWFL side was scheduled to take on Richmond.

We'll provide more information as to the recommencement of each league as it emerges.

Sir Doug Nicholls Round

While the Hawks would have loved to celebrate Sir Doug Nicholls Round in Darwin as originally fixtured, it was fantastic to find an alternative venue to ensure this important round could still go ahead.

The Hawks donned their proud guernseys, designed by proud Nyarinyin, Pitjantjantjara and Yankuntjantjara woman Justine Ronberg, with all match worned guernseys to now be auctioned off, with all proceeds going to Worawa Aboriginal College.

Hawthorn's Indigenous players also shared cultural gifts with Gold Coast ahead of the match in what's becoming one of the most meaningful Sir Doug Nicholls Round traditions. Shaun Burgoyne presented a traditional boomerang designed by Aaron Hayden, a Njaki Njaki desendant who was born in Burgoyne's home town of Port Lincoln. Chad Wingard presented traditional fight clubs from his mob Ngarrindjeri, designed by Major ‘Moogy’ Sumner AM. Finally, Jarman Impey, a Yorta Yorta man, presented Yorta Yorta hunting sticks known as Nulla Nulla designed by Ross Morgan.

Stay tuned for more content celebrating our Indigenous players and their cultures this week, in recognition of National Reconciliation Week.