Gold Coast has suffered an 84-point loss to the Box Hill Hawks on its VFL return to People First Stadium.

On the back of its third bye of the season and with several players unavailable through AFL selection, the Gold Coast struggled with synergy as the Hawks ran away with the game in the second half. 

The first quarter was the most dominant for the fresh squad, with Nicholas Francis opening the scoreboard with the first goal, followed by StreetSmarts SUNS Academy product Zai Millane adding one of his own.

In the second term, a goal from Oscar Wood levelled the sides before the SUNS edged in front. The Hawks then took hold of the game, leading at every change for the remainder of the match.

The SUNS kept their opponent goalless for sixteen minutes in the third term before the Hawks soared off and scored 10 unanswered goals up to the final siren. 

In defence, Connor Budarick amassed a match-leading nine tackles with 26 disposals and Max Knobel made his presence felt in midfield (43 hitouts). Running out for the first time since injuring his shoulder, 2024 AFL draftee, Leo Lombard, tallied 15 disposals and three tackles.

The Gold Coast are set to face the Sandringham Zebras next round. 

GOALS

BOXHILL HAWKS: Max Ramsden 3, William McCabe 2, Matt Hill 2, Sam Durdin 2, Max Donohue 2, Kye Declase 2, Jake Arundell 2, Blake Simondson 1, Jasper Scaife 1

GOLD COAST SUNS: Oscar Wood 1, Zai Millane 1, Nicholas Francis 1