By Paul Daffey
Hawthorn strolled clear of Gold Coast SUNS to win their match at the MCG by 64 points on Sunday, 19.15 (129) to 10.5 (65), but the real story was the withdrawal of star full-forward Lance Franklin before the opening bounce.
Franklin's return after five weeks on the sidelines with a hamstring injury had been much anticipated, but he was pulled out of the team after suffering from what the club described as nausea, headaches and dizziness on Saturday night.
Franklin was replaced in the selected team by half-back Chance Bateman, a 2008 premiership player who's struggled to win a place in the team this season.
It was Bateman's first game since playing in the loss to Geelong in round two.
The 31-year-old came on as the substitute at three-quarter time and had a hand in a goal soon after the restart.
Another member of Hawthorn's 2008 premiership team, Xavier Ellis, played his second game for the season, having returned against Port Adelaide, and improved as the match went on.
Franklin's absence added to the loss to the attack of small forward Cyril Rioli, who'd been ruled out during the week after injuring his shoulder during the Hawks' 72-point victory over Port Adelaide last weekend.
Captain Sam Mitchell pulled out of the team on Saturday because of a bruised leg.
Hawthorn's victory enabled it to jump ahead of Adelaide and Collingwood by percentage and move into second place.
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The Sydney Swans lead the ladder with 16 wins and a percentage of 150.
Hawthorn (158), Adelaide (126) and Collingwood (119) are level on 15 wins.
The Swans and the Hawks play a top-of-the-table clash at the SCG next Saturday evening.
Hawthorn defeated the SUNS by only nine points in their previous match, at Metricon Stadium in the final round last year, but the Suns had no hope of drawing so close in this game.
To say the match was lacklustre would be an overstatement.
While Hawthorn could be excused for preserving themselves on the eve of the finals, the SUNS also showed a lack of spirit, suggesting they might be tired at the end of the season.
Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson used the match to trial key defender Ryan Schoenmakers at full-forward in the first half.
Schoenmakers, who played as a forward during his junior career, kicked two goals in the opening term, including an impressive snap on his non-preferred right, before being sent back to the backline in the third quarter.
Hawthorn talisman Luke Hodge gained valuable momentum going into the finals with a commanding game in the midfield.
He finished with 35 disposals.
Ruckman David Hale, with 30 hit-outs, was close to best on ground, confirming the Hawks' decision to choose him ahead of Max Bailey, while second-string ruckman Jarryd Roughead was superb with 29 disposals, 16 hit-outs and two goals.
Burly key forward Steven May was the ray of hope for the SUNS, playing a bustling game in which he had much the better of his underdone Hawthorn opponent, Stephen Gilham.
May had 22 disposals, took 12 marks and kicked three goals.
Gold Coast SUNS went into the match well below full strength because of an injury list that features 18 players.
Its debutant, Piers Flanagan, a 20-year-old recruited from the Geelong Falcons, brings to 42 the number of players the Suns have played this season.
This tally is second on the list, behind Greater Western Sydney's 45 players.
Gold Coast SUNS difficulties were summed up 10 minutes into the second quarter when captain Gary Ablett gathered the ball on the SUNS defensive goal-line.
Seeing no one to kick to upfield, he was forced to try to sidestep his way through Hawthorn opponents, only to be brought down by a tackle in the goalsquare.
Tenacious Hawthorn small forward Paul Puopolo went back and kicked the goal from the resultant free kick, giving his team a 25-point lead, while a clearly frustrated Ablett considered the indignity of being stripped of the ball.
Ablett rebounded from his disappointment to finish with an astonishing 44 disposals and two goals.
HAWTHORN 6.3 9.7 12.11 19.15 (129)
GOLD COAST SUNS 3.3 4.5 8.5 10.5 (65)
GOALS
Hawthorn: Gunston 4, Roughead 2, Savage 2, Schoenmakers 2, Smith 2, Ellis 2, Breust, Hale, Lewis, Puopolo, Shiels
Gold Coast SUNS: May 3, Ablett 2, Brown 2, Magin 2, Taylor
BEST
Hawthorn: Hale, Roughead, Sewell, Gunston, Savage, Hodge, Birchall
Gold Coast SUNS: May, Ablett, Bennell, Magin, Stanley
INJURIES
Hawthorn: Lance Franklin (illness) replaced in selected side by Chance Bateman
Gold Coast SUNS: Charlie Dixon replaced in selected side by Michael Coad
SUBSTITUTES
Hawthorn: Chance Bateman replaced Stephen Gilham at three-quarter-time
Gold Coast: Josh Toy replaced Matt Shaw at three-quarter-time
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Dalgleish, Stewart, Hosking
Official crowd: 23,098 at the MCG
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs
