Match

Gold Coast Suns vs Hawthorn

Commentary / 15 May 2025

Pre Game

00:00
The Suns have scored a goal from 39.5 per cent of Ben King's inside 50 targets, the highest rate of the top-10 targets in the AFL.

Quarter 1

00:00
Q1 is now underway.
02:54
SCORE BEHIND - SUNS (Rushed)
04:12
SCORE GOAL - Hawks (Dylan Moore)
05:57
Despite conceding the first goal of the match, Gold Coast have started well in the contest, winning seven of the first eight contested possessions of the game.
07:55
SCORE GOAL - SUNS (Touk Miller)
09:20
Touk Miller kicks Gold Coast's first goal of the match in his 200th game. Miller is one of three players this season to have played every game and average over 25 disposals and one goal per game, alongside Christian Petracca and Zach Merrett.
09:49
SCORE GOAL - SUNS (Ben Long)
12:21
SCORE BEHIND - SUNS (Jed Walter)
14:21
SCORE GOAL - SUNS (Bailey Humphrey)
14:37
Gold Coast's forward half intercept game is on point to start the match. The Suns have won five intercepts from their attacking midfield zone and have kicked 2.1.13 from these possessions.
18:22
SCORE GOAL - SUNS (Ben King)
18:52
The Suns continue to dominate contested possession, leading this area by 11. This includes an advantage of eight in post-clearance contested possession. Gold Coast has 11 intercepts for the match, resulting in five scores in a very efficient start.
23:36
SCORE GOAL - SUNS (Ben Ainsworth)
24:34
Gold Coast have brought the pressure this quarter, while Hawthorn haven't. The Suns lead the pressure rating 191 to 159 for the term.
29:24
SCORE GOAL - Hawks (Nick Watson)
29:52
SUNS Interchange - Nick Holman off due to the blood rule.
32:01
Gold Coast's midfield leaders Noah Anderson and Matt Rowell were superb in the opening quarter. Anderson finished the term with nine disposals at 89 per cent efficiency, three clearances and over 200 metres gained, while Rowell was his ever industrious self with 10 disposals at 90 per cent efficiency, seven coming via a contested possession.

Quarter 2

00:00
Q2 is now underway.
00:53
SCORE GOAL - Hawks (Blake Hardwick)
06:42
SCORE BEHIND - SUNS (Ben King)
07:02
Both sides are moving the ball well from defensive 50 to forward 50. The Suns have converted 36 per cent of their defensive 50 chains into inside 50s, while the Hawks have converted 27 per cent. The AFL average this season is 23 per cent.
09:05
SCORE BEHIND - Hawks (Dylan Moore)
12:24
SCORE GOAL - SUNS (Ben Long)
12:35
Hawthorn have improved in the contest this quarter, breaking even in contested possession, but Gold Coast's ball use is setting them apart. The Suns are kicking at an efficiency of 93 per cent compared to Hawthorn's 53 per cent this quarter.
14:19
SCORE GOAL - SUNS (Sam Clohesy)
15:32
SCORE GOAL - SUNS (Sam Flanders)
16:05
Noah Anderson's centre bounce clearance results in a goal to Sam Flanders, Anderson's fifth clearance of the match - a game-high. It was also Anderson's third centre bounce clearance of the match.
21:26
SCORE GOAL - Hawks (Nick Watson)
22:20
Hawthorn's pressure has improved this quarter - they lead the Suns 194 to 181 in pressure rating. This is more like Hawthorn, who are the No.1 ranked pressure side in the competition this season.
22:35
SCORE BEHIND - SUNS (Rushed)
23:20
Hawks Interchange - Ned Reeves off due to an injury.
24:02
SCORE BEHIND - Hawks (Josh Weddle)
25:10
SCORE GOAL - SUNS (Noah Anderson)
25:36
Noah Anderson continues to be the dominant player on the ground. The Suns captain has 18 disposals, seven clearances, five score involvements and a goal.
25:39
SUNS Interchange - Jarrod Witts off due to the blood rule.
30:56
SCORE GOAL - Hawks (Nick Watson)
31:06
Jai Newcombe and Nick Watson are doing their best to keep Hawthorn in the contest. Newcombe has 10 disposals and four clearances in the second quarter, while Watson has eight disposals, three goals and one score assist.
32:30
SCORE GOAL - Hawks (Karl Amon)
34:54
SCORE GOAL - Hawks (Jack Ginnivan)
35:26
In the last six minutes of game time, Hawthorn have won all four clearances, generated five inside 50s to nil and have kicked the last three goals of the match.
37:57
Hawthorn were able to wrestle back ascendancy in the contest, particularly post-clearance where they enjoyed an advantage of 15 in post-clearance contested possession in the second quarter. They also held an advantage of eight in tackles for the term.

Quarter 3

00:00
Q3 is now underway.
00:22
SCORE BEHIND - SUNS (Sam Flanders)
04:38
SCORE GOAL - SUNS (Ben King)
05:07
Gold Coast kicks the opening goal of the third quarter, launched by a Sam Collins intercept mark. He has a match-high three intercept marks and his five intercept possessions is only bettered by teammate Will Powell with seven.
06:35
SCORE BEHIND - Hawks (Jack Ginnivan)
09:41
Hawks Interchange - Jack Scrimshaw off due to an injury.
09:51
SCORE GOAL - Hawks (Mabior Chol)
12:18
Hawthorn have picked up where they left off with respect to post-clearance contested possession, leading this area by eight for the quarter. They lead this area by 24 since quarter time.
13:13
SCORE BEHIND - SUNS (Ben Long)
14:47
SCORE GOAL - Hawks (Blake Hardwick)
19:00
SCORE GOAL - Hawks (Jai Newcombe)
19:13
All three Hawthorn goals have been launched from its attacking midfield zone this quarter, as they have pinned Gold Coast in their defensive half. The Hawks have enjoyed 63 per cent time in forward half this quarter.
20:31
SCORE GOAL - SUNS (Ben Ainsworth)
21:02
Hawks Interchange - Tom Barrass off due to the blood rule.
25:09
SCORE GOAL - Hawks (Harry Morrison)
25:18
Gold Coast lead the tackle count 21 to seven for the quarter, but it is an important forward 50 tackle by Harry Morrison that earns him a goal and trims the lead back to three points. All four Hawthorn goals this quarter have come from forward half.
28:49
SCORE GOAL - Hawks (Blake Hardwick)
29:08
Hawthorn's accuracy has been impressive tonight, kicking 9.2.56 from set shots tonight.
29:43
Josh Weddle started the match as a forward, but returned to defence in the second quarter. In the third quarter, Weddle was outstanding with nine disposals and six intercept possessions. Two of Weddle's eight intercepts for the match have resulted in goals for the Hawks.

Quarter 4

00:00
Q4 is now underway.
02:31
SCORE GOAL - SUNS (David Swallow)
03:43
SCORE BEHIND - SUNS (Malcolm Rosas)
05:40
SCORE BEHIND - Hawks (James Worpel)
06:34
Gold Coast have laid the first six tackles of the final quarter and have laid 20 more tackles than the Hawks in the second half.
07:01
Hawks Interchange - Massimo D'Ambrosio off due to the blood rule.
07:26
SCORE GOAL - SUNS (Ben Long)
07:58
Gold Coast have been on top at the stoppages all night, leading the clearances by 10 and outscoring Hawthorn by 10 points from this score source.
15:19
John Noble has amassed 916 metres gained tonight for Gold Coast, the most recorded by any player in a game this season. The Suns recruit has 33 disposals and eight inside 50s to his name also.
16:32
SCORE GOAL - SUNS (Malcolm Rosas)
18:26
SCORE GOAL - Hawks (Mabior Chol)
19:50
SCORE BEHIND - Hawks (Connor Macdonald)
20:38
SCORE BEHIND - SUNS (Rushed)
22:04
SCORE BEHIND - Hawks (Massimo D'Ambrosio)
23:31
SCORE GOAL - Hawks (Jack Ginnivan)
23:44
Hawthorn enjoys the advantage in scores from forward half chains. The Hawks have kicked 8.2.50 from forward half chains, compared to Gold Coast's 6.3.39.
24:45
SCORE GOAL - SUNS (Touk Miller)
25:09
The Suns have kicked 3.2.20 from centre bounce, compared to Hawthorn's 2.2.14. Gold Coast have enjoyed a 17 to 10 advantage from centre bounce clearances, with 16 of Gold Coast's 17 centre bounce clearances resulting in an inside 50.
27:34
Matt Rowell's second half has been enormous for the Suns. Since half time, the Suns midfield jet has totalled 17 disposals, seven contested possessions, six clearances and seven tackles.
27:46
SCORE GOAL - SUNS (Ben Long)
29:43
SCORE GOAL - Hawks (Mabior Chol)
33:45
A tremendous captain's game by Noah Anderson tonight. The Suns midfielder totalled 35 disposals at 83 per cent efficiency, 16 contested possessions, 12 clearances, 10 inside 50s and a goal. His 865 metres gained was the second most recorded by any player this season, eclipsed only by teammate John Noble who became the 13th player in AFL history to record over 1000m gained in a game tonight.