The Gold Coast SUNS gave reigning premier Hawthorn a real scare in Launceston on Sunday before the Hawks’ polish came to the fore, allowing them to run out 26-point winners and register their 18th consecutive win in the Apple Isle.

Following the game, Hawks premiership coach Alastair Clarkson was full of praise for Gold Coast, predicting the SUNS would be a dangerous prospect for their upcoming opposition in the remaining nine games of the 2016 home and away season.

“Gold Coast started the game really, really well,” Clarkson said.

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“(Tom) Lynch was best on ground by a country mile in the first 40 minutes of the game, he provided a great target for them and they got out to five goals to two at one stage early in the second quarter.

“I think Gold Coast are perhaps a lot better side than their ladder position suggests. In my view they’ve got one of the best key defenders in the game in (Steven) May, obviously (Gary) Ablett’s contribution to the game needs no explanation and they’ve got nearly the best key forward in the game in Lynch.

“They complement that with some good players around them. I reckon they’re going to cause some damage in the last part of the year.”