GOLD Coast has put a tumultuous week behind it in emphatic fashion, thumping Hawthorn by a record 86 points at Metricon Stadium on Sunday.

Not only is it the SUNS' first win of the season, but their first ever win over Hawthorn and the biggest win in club history.

The remarkable result also marks the first time the Hawks have been 0-3 since Alastair Clarkson's first season in charge in 2005.

Fresh off a 102-point loss to GWS, Gold Coast played inspired football from the outset and won 21.13 (139) to 7.11 (53).

They looked like a new team.

The SUNS laid the platform in the first half with aggression and relentless intensity, and cashed in with a scintillating 10-goal third quarter.

Earlier in the week, midfielder Michael Barlow said this game would show just who wanted to play for Gold Coast, and they had winners all over the ground.

Comeback kid David Swallow, playing just his third game after a 20-month absence, led the only way he knows how – with brute force.

Swallow had 22 disposals in the decisive first half and finished with 33 for the game, including nine clearances.

Gold Coast was way too quick and way too forceful, winning the contested possessions (181-117) and clearances (51-26) decisively.

Ablett responded to criticism of his poor game against the Giants, setting the tone for the home team by winning the game's first centre clearance and kicking an early goal.

He finished with 36 disposals (14 in the third quarter) and kicked two goals, the second of which brought teammates rushing from everywhere to congratulate him.

Recalled forward Brandon Matera kicked a career-high six goals.

Tom Lynch (two goals) kicked his own and created plenty of others with his pack-crashing marking attempts, while Matera, Jack Martin (three) and Brayden Fiorini (two) feasted at his feet.

Barlow (34 disposals), Aaron Hall (30), Touk Miller (28) and ruckman Jarrod Witts (13 and 40 hit-outs) were also instrumental in victory.

The sight of Adam Saad taking four bounces and streaking away from one of the Hawks' quickest players, Paul Puopolo, was indicative of their speed concerns.



GOLD COAST 3.3 7.8 17.10 21.13 (139)
HAWTHORN 2.3 3.6 6.10 7.11 (53)

GOALS
Gold Coast: Matera 6, Martin 3, Hall 2, Fiorini 2, Lynch 2, Miller 2, Ablett 2, Harbrow, Lemmens
Hawthorn: Roughead 3, Puopolo, Rioli, O'Meara, Burton

BEST
Gold Coast: Swallow, Martin, Ablett, Witts, Harbrow, Matera
Hawthorn: Henderson, Hodge, Mitchell, Shiels

INJURIES
Gold Coast: Nil
Hawthorn: Puopolo (hamstring)

Reports: Lyons (GC) reported in the first quarter for striking Shiels (Haw)

Umpires: McInerney, Findlay, Foot

Official crowd: 14,728 at Metricon Stadium