AFL 2023: All the news and fallout from Gold Coast vs Hawthorn

Gold Coast is equal eighth and back in the finals race with a bullet after a huge win against Hawthorn. And the Suns’ next assignment couldn’t be any bigger.

Callum Dick and Hannah Davies

4 min read

June 25, 2023 - 9:01PM

News Corp Australia Sports Newsroom

Hawk James Blanck wrestles with Gold Coast’s Jack Lukosius. Picture: Matt Roberts/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

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Gold Coast coach Stuart Dew has already set his sights on Collingwood next weekend after a comprehensive 67-point thumping of Hawthorn at Heritage Bank Stadium on Sunday night.

The Hawks burst out of the blocks with the opening three goals of the match, but managed just two more over three-and-a-half quarters as the Suns turned the screws across the ground.

Gold Coast had a season-high 35 front-half turnovers and completely stifled Hawthorn’s transition game, consigning Sam Mitchell’s side to its lowest score of the season.

It was exactly the response Dew wanted after being blown off the park by the Blues a week earlier.

“It was a focus on the back of last week. We felt Carlton were able to come through the middle too easily … we put a bit of time into that and I think, pleasingly, we responded,” Dew said.

The Suns got on top in the second term but despite dominating the inside-50 count, took only a 10-point lead into halftime.

Dew wasn’t concerned.

“Yes, we’d like to be a little bit more accurate, but it was more about the style of play and the way we were going about it,” he said.

“We had to make sure that we didn’t drop off and get complacent and I think they did that in the second half. They just kept the foot down, which is good.”

Malcolm Rosas booted three goals against the Hawks. Picture: Russell Freeman/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Next on the slate is a blockbuster clash with Collingwood at Heritage Bank Stadium on Saturday.

It begins a mammoth fortnight for the Suns, who host the Pies before travelling to face Port Adelaide.

Dew said now was “as good a time as any” for the Suns to test themselves against the competition benchmark.

“Definitely keeping our eyes pretty low to the next opponent and obviously the biggest challenge of all, Collingwood,” he said.

“We’ll get some information, won’t we? Collectively and individually. It’s a fantastic challenge.

“Anytime you can play the best as a measuring stick and see where we stack up (is good) and I think our players should get some confidence.”

The Suns are one of four teams sitting on 7-7 coming out of the bye rounds and find themselves in a familiar position on the cusp of the top-eight approaching the back end of the season.

Dew said he would resist the urge to unleash superstar Touk Miller against the Pies, conceding the Suns skipper was more likely to suit up in a fortnight.

Hewago Oea of drives the Suns into attack. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

Stand-in Hawks captain Dylan Moore kicked his first goal as skipper as the visitors kicked the first three goals.

Gold Coast’s defence was strong all night, with Sam Collins acting as playmaker alongside Wil Powell and Mac Andrew in the backline. But their hard work initially failed to be rewarded, with several opportunities going begging as the Hawks caused havoc in the midfield.

Mitch Lewis led Hawthorn’s first-quarter charge, scoring two goals in the first 14 minutes, but it was a charge that couldn’t be maintained, as they suddenly backflipped on their stellar start to finish the second term without a single major, and only two behinds.

The Suns dominated inside-50s, notching 23 to the Hawks’ six, and managed to kick the next four in a row, forcing the Hawks to stare down a 66-34 three-quarter time score.

It took eight minutes for either side to score a major in the fourth term, until Malcolm Rosas continued the Suns dominance’ over the Hawks at home with three goals of his own, marking a monumental welcome back to the Gold Coast for the Hawks, in their first visit since 2017.

Despite the loss, Blake Hardwick ran rampant in the Hawks’ midfield, notching 38 disposals, while the Suns’ Brayden Fiorini continued to solidify his spot in the senior side this season with 35 disposals of his own.

Hawk James Blanck wrestles with Jack Lukosius. Picture: Matt Roberts/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell has declared his team “let down” the club’s fan base.

“I was really disappointed in the last quarter, I think when you’re a fan or member of a club like Hawthorn, you want to see progress in what we’re doing and you want to see spirit and belief in the direction that we’re going,” Mitchell said.

“Today, unfortunately, we could just never find a way to get ourselves up and going to create energy in the game and, unfortunately, I think the players and the staff feel that we let our people down today because we just couldn’t get anything going.

“A bit of credit goes to Gold Coast, they did a great job, but I think our players and staff would be disappointed with our performance today.”

The loss continues what looks to be a tumultuous season for the Hawks, winning three of their four most recent games, including a shock win over premiership contenders the Brisbane Lions in Round 13.

“At the moment I can’t find too many positives out of today,” Mitchell said.

“We had won three out of four and were moving along pretty well, (but) today was a reality check. In the second quarter it was about trying to take the sting out of the game, we didn’t want them to score, and then after that we knew we were going to have to score to win so we tried to play with a bit more freedom and speed, and we just couldn’t get anything going.

“What they did really well was win the critical contests behind the ball, and we weren’t able to win those. Their work rate taught us a bit of a lesson.”

David Swallow celebrates a goal. Picture: Matt Roberts/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

SUNS GO SEVEN-SEVEN

Now with seven wins and seven losses, the Suns remain within reach of finals – yet again. Remembering the downfalls of years gone by, Gold Coast midfielder Noah Anderson told Fox Footy post-game he felt the side was “more mature” than last, and had high hopes the team would maintain their form.

TRIP TO FORGET

For the Hawks, their long-awaited return to the Gold Coast was one to forget. It was the first time these teams had met at Carrara since 2017. But Hawthorn put out two goalless quarters and finished with their lowest score since 2020.