Gold Coast coach Rodney Eade believes his side's remarkable turnaround of fortunes is due in part to an unpredictable competition, but is also reflective of its strong pre-season.

Eade's SUNS rebounded from a 102-point defeat to fellow expansion club Greater Western Sydney in round two to humble winless heavyweight Hawthorn by 86 points on Sunday night.

Gary Ablett, the source of so many headlines during the week, won 36 disposals and kicked two goals in a vintage display.

Gold Coast had an army of contributors, with forward Brandon Matera booting six majors in his return, David Swallow having 34 touches and Jack Martin (three goals) also starring.

"I sort of made mention of outside Queensland, certainly in Melbourne, there was some talk about (Ablett and the club culture) and that's what people think of us," Eade told RSN radio.

"But it was more about what we needed to do and where we were going wrong. The baseline is effort and everyone talks about that – intensity, all those buzzwords we use.

"We needed to bring that competitive nature back to the game and they were the main things we focused on in a: meetings, and b: at training."

The SUNS were one of five sides, along with Collingwood, Fremantle, St Kilda and Carlton, to post their first wins of the season in round three at the weekend.

They had never defeated Hawthorn, which plummeted to the bottom of the ladder and its first 0-3 start since coach Alastair Clarkson's first season in charge in 2005.

"The competition's so tough now – it's getting tougher every year – and we talk about it being even," Eade said.

"If you don't bring your work-rate, you can get beaten. If you do bring it, it gives you a chance to win, and that's every team in the competition.

"Teams the media think are bottom four, six will beat teams perceived top four, six … there's not going to be a lot of difference between teams, and anyone can defeat another."

Eade said the influx of mature-age recruits such as Michael Barlow, Jarryd Lyons, Jarrod Witts and Pearce Hanley, who is out of the country for family reasons, had made a positive impact.

Jarrod Harbrow also provided stability in his season debut.

"You can't underestimate experience," he said.

"Sometimes if you have too many youngsters or you're too young, in tight situations it can fall apart.

"Those types of players just added the experience to Gary, and a few other guys around had cool heads, and Harbrow was terrific."