Something has clicked for Gold Coast's players.

Just two weeks after coach Rodney Eade said his message was only partly getting through after the Suns were blown away by Melbourne, they've shown that something is starting to sink in.

Up by 43 points in the third quarter against Hawthorn on Saturday, the Suns struggled to respond to the Hawks' lift in intensity after three-quarter time and let them get within nine.

But, this time, they steadied the ship and held on to a 16-point win, their second close result in the space of a week after beating West Coast by three points last Saturday.

"We've fluctuated with that at times … other times, we've been very good," Eade said, of their ability to hang on.

"We've spoken about that internally, and the last two weeks have been really pleasing.

"We're on the upward curve, there might be some inconsistency going forward with a young group, but I think we're learning, I think we're getting better.

"[The Hawks'] pressure in the last quarter was as good as I've seen and we didn't at times handle it as well as we could have … I thought as a young team learning, we didn't wilt and we were able to respond to that."

It was just the Suns' third win at the MCG since their inaugural season in 2011, which Eade said was a milestone in itself.

"It helps, we only get the one game here this year so that's a plus," he said.

"I think even though Hawthorn have a few injuries, playing against a quality club … to be able to fight back [when] they certainly showed a lot of fight themselves, I think there's a lot of positives to come out of it."

In a situation similar to what Collingwood experienced in round four with Scott Pendlebury, superstar Sun Gary Ablett was marooned on the bench for eight minutes in the fourth quarter.

When the Suns were finally able to orchestrate an interchange, Ablett immediately won a centre clearance and was then involved in a passage of play that resulted in Peter Wright's match-sealing goal.

"We couldn't get him back on," Eade said.

"After about four minutes, there were a few things said in the box.

"We need to be better about that … the player who was supposed to come off had been on for 14, 15 [minutes].

"It was a communication thing and maybe the player concerned was just stuck in the game.

"You certainly want your better players on. His form has been really good."

Eade said they were "extra cautious" with forward Callum Ah Chee, who was a late withdrawal on Saturday after missing three games with a back injury.

"He just got tight in the hamstring on Thursday," Eade said.

"He passed the fitness test on Friday but he just had a little bit of doubt in his mind so he was 95 per cent and we weren't going to take the risk, he's too valuable.

"He'll do some training today and I imagine he'll be available next week."