Hawthorn Hawks defeat Gold Coast Suns, extending Suns' losing streak

AFL Friday Scoreboard

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By Andrew McGarry

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Suns vs Hawks

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That's where we'll leave it

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By Andrew McGarry

That's all we've got for you tonight.

That's a big win for the Hawks, and another big week for Gold Coast with the spotlight on the club and how they turn things around.

We'll be back tomorrow for Saturday footy, starting with a lunchtime game at Adelaide Oval between the Crows and Melbourne.

Then we'll have GWS vs Carlton in Sydney, before the Saturday night game at the MCG between Collingwood and Port Adelaide.

In the meantime, this is Andrew McGarry, thanking you for joining us tonight, and wishing you all a very good night.

'It's Suns killing Suns': Damien Hardwick laments his team's failures at centre bounce

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By Andrew McGarry

Gold Coast coach Damien Hardwick has spoken to the media after his team's loss to Hawthorn.

Hardwick said his team was doing a lot of things right, but that two key areas were letting them down.

"(Conceding) 5.4 from centre bounce, and eight goals from turnovers in our front half," he said.

"It's Suns killing Suns. Hawthorn played a reasonable game ... but we're just not helping ourselves."

Hardwick said it wasn't a lack of effort hurting his side, but they had to get these areas right.

"We had 65 inside 50s, we had enough opportunities to score."

He said it was frustrating to be in this position on the ladder (seven wins, seven losses) after making finals in 2025, but said "we know the future is pretty bright".

He acknowledged that Daniel Rioli's jaw injury was a problem, saying he had gone for scans, and "he'll miss time".

Hardwick said playing Fremantle in Perth was "the toughest place to be (in football)."

"Let's see what we've got."

Match report: Hawthorn mids fire as Suns sink to fourth straight loss

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By Andrew McGarry

Hawthorn dominated the midfield and scored their goals in rapid spurts as Gold Coast sunk to a fourth straight defeat and lost defender Daniel Rioli to injury.

The Hawks won 17.11 (113) to 14.13 (97) at Carrara on Friday night to improve to 9-1-4 and third place.

Dylan Moore kicked four goals and the Hawks midfield dominated the centre clearances 20-12, the Suns flattered by winning the last four.

Ben Long booted four goals for the Suns while Noah Anderson amassed 43 touches, nine more than any other player on the ground.

Mac Andrew and Joel Jeffrey were solid at the back for the Suns, but Hawthorn's ball-up dominance and their quick-fire goals in the first, third and fourth quarters proved the difference in front of 19,576 fans.

Jai Newcombe starred for Hawthorn with two goals, 30 disposals and 10 clearances.

There was carnage in the first half, with Jarman Impey (hamstring) ruled out and Rioli likely fracturing his jaw after high contact from Josh Weddle that's set to land the Hawk in hot water.

Sun Sam Clohesy will also come under scrutiny for his driving tackle on Cam Nairn, who returned after passing his HIA.

Hawthorn's Karl Amon also limped off late in the third quarter.

The Suns, facing unprecedented scrutiny because of their stalling form, had all the early ball, amassing 71 to 44 uncontested possessions in the first quarter.

But when Jed Walter spilled an easy mark and Mitch Lewis kicked a goal at the other end it sparked a run of five majors in 10 minutes that gave the visitors a 21-point halftime lead.

Nick Watson (three goals) whizzed through the traffic and grubbered through a terrific goal, before Newcombe bombed one on the siren.

They added two more after halftime for a 34-point lead, before the Suns found something, Touk Miller squeezing out a much-needed goal.

They kicked the next four to lead by one, before the Hawks kicked three majors in less than three minutes to push the lead back to 20 points.

Things finally tightened up, Petracca bursting on to a loose ball to make it a seven-point game and give the hosts the momentum at the final break.

But it was quickly reversed, Connor Macdonald capitalising when Andrew spilt a tough mark to begin the final quarter, and former Sun Mabior Chol snapped a major and roared in delight to push the lead to 19 points.

Two more centre clearances to Hawthorn created their third and fourth goals inside five minutes and the margin was 31 points.

Long and Walter goals gave the Suns hope and Nick Holman scrapped hard for a major in his 150th AFL game.

But Hawthorn had done enough, a breakaway Moore goal all but sealing the result with nine minutes remaining.

AAP

Will Day masterclass bringing joy to the Hawks

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By Andrew McGarry

Aside from the victory, one of the biggest plusses for Hawthorn tonight was the performance of Will Day.

The young gun has missed more football than he has played for the last season or so, but he is back and apparently getting back to his best.

Tonight he delivered for the Hawks, with 21 disposals, seven tackles, five clearances, eight inside 50s, a goal and 10 score involvements. Just awesome stuff.

On Fox Footy, Jai Newcombe was asked about his feelings to have Day back.

"It's a great feeling to be running alongside the big guy, the way he can break the game open for us," Newcombe said.

Next five for the Suns

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By Andrew McGarry

Rd 16: vs Fremantle (Perth Stadium)

Rd 17: vs Collingwood (Carrara)

Rd 18: vs Adelaide (Adelaide Oval)

Rd 19: vs Western Bulldogs (Carrara)

Rd 20: vs Carlton (Docklands)

It just doesn't get easier for the Suns, who have four big games coming up, starting with the toughest trip in football to face the Dockers in Perth.

If they can't at least split those four games - and then beat the Blues - they could well be outside the top 10 and struggling to make it to September.

Next five for Hawthorn

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By Andrew McGarry

Rd 16: vs GWS (MCG)

Rd 17: vs Melbourne (Launceston)

Rd 18: vs Carlton (MCG)

Rd 19: vs Richmond (MCG)

Rd 20: vs Essendon (MCG)

This was a huge win for the Hawks, who are inside the top four and have a decent chance of running off five more wins to all but lock in the double chance.

FT stats

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By Andrew McGarry

Inside 50s: 65-55 Gold Coast

Clearances: 36-32 Hawthorn

Centre clearances: 20-12 Hawthorn

Contested possessions: 149-126 Gold Coast

Uncontested possessions: 270-196 Gold Coast

marks inside 50: 11-7 Gold Coast

Tackles: 55-48 Hawthorn

FT: Hawthorn 17.11 (113) beats Gold Coast 14.13 (96)

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By Andrew McGarry

Time runs out for the Suns, as Hawthorn wins at Carrara for the first time since 2014!

In a game of huge swings of momentum, the Hawks were just better when it counted on making their momentum count.

They are quite frightening in full flight, even if they can't keep it going for long periods.

The Hawks rise to third on the ladder, while for Gold Coast it's four losses in a row, and the risk of dropping out of the top 10 this weekend.

Nick Holman keeps the Suns in it in game 150

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By Andrew McGarry

The Suns are still coming! And there was a close moment where it could have been holding the ball, but they hit up Nick Holman in the left forward pocket. He kicks it, in game 150.

Five and a half minutes, 19 points.

Dylan Moore has four - and that should almost it

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By Andrew McGarry

This quarter has been full of nearly moments for the Suns.

They nearly had a goal at the other end, but they are running out of energy, and the Hawks just burst down the corridor, and Jai Newcombe just kicks to grass, it runs for Dylan Moore who kicks the goal. The lead is back out to 25 points, and you sense that should be it.

Ben Long goes for his fifth - and misses

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By Andrew McGarry

The clock is ticking, and the Suns need to take their chances.

Ben Long gets a mark - but his kick misses.

It's 19 points, a goal would have been so important there.

Mabior Chol soccers it for a point

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By Andrew McGarry

The Hawks are just tackling and making life hard for the Suns to get the break.

They get it forward, and Mabior Chol soccers it from close range - it goes wide for a point. Nine minutes, 20 points.

Jed Walter kicks his second, the Suns narrow the gap

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By Andrew McGarry

It's not over, folks!

The Suns are trying everything to get this lead back. Jai Murray gets the ball on the wing and chips perfectly to Jed Walter.

He kicks it, and the lead is 19 points.

Nick Holman misses a set shot

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By Andrew McGarry

The Suns are coming again, Noah Anderson kicks long and hits Nick Holman.

He marks in game 150, the crowd is up and about - but Holman misses! Oh dear.

Josh Weddle misses on the run

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By Andrew McGarry

The Hawks have the speed and the energy right now.

They broke down the right with a chain of handballs, and the ball goes to Josh Weddle, who kicks on the run but it drifts wide for a point.

Ben Long gets one back for the Suns

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By Andrew McGarry

This task looks Herculean for the Suns right now.

They can only go a step at a time. They've taken the first, forcing a turnover and getting the ball to Leo Lombard who was held. Advantage was paid, and he gets it to Ben Long, who goes clear and kicks from about 50. It goes through!

The Suns get one back, it's 25 points.

Dylan Moore adds another and the Suns are nowhere

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By Andrew McGarry

This is a formidable few minutes from the Hawks.

They are winning every clearance in sight, and every time they go forward they look like they will kick a goal.

Dylan Moore is next up, and he kicks another!

The lead is out to 31 points.

Macdonald does it again and the Hawks are breaking clear

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By Andrew McGarry

It's on again! The Hawks are unstoppable, they flood forward, the ball comes back to Connor Macdonald, and he kicks it again.

In the Suns box, Damien Hardwick looks frustrated as hell. He knows this couple of minutes may have done for the game.

Suddenly Hawthorn leads by 25 points.