His side may have enjoyed a 53-point win over Gold Coast but coach Alastair Clarkson bemoaned the lack of consistency at Hawthorn, calling on his players to lift if they have designs on being around for the pointy end of the finals.
The result was no surprise at Launceston's Aurora Stadium on Saturday, the reigning premiers running out victors 14.9 (93) to 6.4 (40) over the SUNS.
But, with a 5-4 season start Clarkson wants more.
"We need to start putting some wins together to give ourselves any chance of finishing top-four," he said.
"We need to start working on some wins, and consecutive wins, to be able to give ourselves a chance in the latter part of the year."
It has been a frustrating pattern in 2015 for the Hawks, who have yet to win back-to-back games.
On the plus side on Saturday was the return from suspension of captain Luke Hodge, Clarkson lauding his experience and strength in the win.
Playing his 100th game in the brown and gold Luke Breust kicked three goals and was the side's top-scorer.
Sam Mitchell featured with 37 disposals and seven clearances, and forward David Hale again showed his value.
The SUNS, minus key midfielders due to a high injury toll, put up an admirable display to stay in the early game, with a margin of just 14-points at the main break.
Coach Rodney Eade said the first-half performance was encouraging.
"Early in the third (term) they killed us a bit, but I thought we fought back," he said.
"Except for a patch of about 15 or 20 minutes I thought our effort was terrific.
"The thing that got us in the end was our ability to run. (There are) so many out who are our good runners."
The SUNS are missing Gary Ablett (shoulder, indefinite) while Dion Prestia, David Swallow and Jaegar O'Meara (all knee) are on the long-term injury list.
Up to 14 players were listed as out of action for this week.
Tom Lynch top-scored for the SUNS with two goals and Mitch Hallahan finished with 30 disposals and seven clearances against his former Hawks teammates.
But there was more bad news for the SUNS on Saturday, with Jack Martin leaving the ground within the first three minutes of play with a hamstring injury, while Adam Saad and Alex Sexton played on with groin complaints.
HAWTHORN 3.0 6.4 12.7 14.9 (93)
GOLD COAST 2.1 4.2 5.3 6.4 (40)
GOALS
Hawthorn: Breust 3, Hale 3, Gunston 2, Suckling, Burgoyne, Hodge, Smith, Shiels, Rioli
Gold Coast: Lynch 2, Russell, Matera, Dixon, Brooksby
BEST
Hawthorn: Shiels, Mitchell, Hodge, Hill, Duryea
Gold Coast: Lynch, Hallahan, May, Saad, Rischitelli
INJURIES
Hawthorn: Jordan Lewis (bruised shoulder) replaced in selected side by Matthew Suckling, Puopolo (ankle)
Gold Coast: Jack Martin (hamstring)
SUBSTITUTES
Hawthorn: Cyril Rioli replaced by Daniel Howe in the final quarter.
Gold Coast: 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
