An undermanned Gold Coast SUNS line-up fought bravely for four quarters but ultimately went down to the Hawks by 53 points in Launceston on Saturday afternoon.

With a strong breeze pushing across Aurora Stadium and favouring the home side, Rodney Eade started usual key forward Tom Lynch as a loose man across half-back and fresh faces Andrew Boston and Trent McKenzie in the middle of the ground.

The moves paid dividends, with the SUNS matching the Hawks for pressure and intensity to go goal-for-goal in the opening term.

Lynch was then switched forward in the second quarter and booted two goals in the opening five minutes to spark Gold Coast.

However, from that point on, the SUNS defence was put under extreme pressure with the Hawks peppering Gold Coast’s back six with repeated inside 50 entries through the middle two quarters.

Through sheer weight of numbers, the Hawks started converting their onslaught onto the scoreboard with nine unanswered goals before Charlie Dixon ended the drought just minutes before the final break.

With the Hawks going into the last quarter leading by 46 points in wet conditions, the game was essentially over with the two sides battling it out in the final term; the Hawks finishing 14.9 (93) to Gold Coast’s 6.4 (40).

Mitch Hallahan picked up 30 disposals against his former club while stand-in captain Michael Rischitelli finished with 23.

The injury curse continues to strike Metricon Stadium with Jack Martin, in his first game back after a three-week absence due to an ankle injury, suffering a hamstring complaint in the opening minute and being subbed out of the game.

HAWTHORN         3.0     6.4     12.7     14.9 (93)
GC SUNS             2.1     4.2     5.3        6.4 (40)

GOALS
Hawthorn: Breust 3, Hale 3, Gunston 2, Suckling, Burgoyne, Hodge, Smith, Shiels, Rioli,
GC SUNS: Lynch 2, Russell, Matera, Dixon, Brooksby

BEST
Hawthorn: Shiels, Mitchell, Hodge, Hill, Duryea
GC SUNS: Lynch, Hallahan, May, Saad, Rischitelli

INJURIES
Hawthorn: Jordan Lewis (bruised shoulder) replaced in selected side by Matthew Suckling, Puopolo (TBC)
GC SUNS: Jack Martin (hamstring), 

SUBSTITUTES
Hawthorn: Cyril Rioli replaced by Daniel Howe in the final quarter.
GC SUNS: Jack Martin replaced by Brandon Matera in the first quarter.

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Matt Stevic, Nick Brown, Sam Hay

Official crowd: 11,320 at Aurora Stadium