The Gold Coast SUNS will travel over the Bass Strait to the Hawks’ home away from home, UTAS Stadium, for their Saturday afternoon ANZAC Day clash.

The SUNS are yet to record a win in Launceston. However, the team comes in with momentum after securing four points in Round 6 and now face Hawthorn, who have enjoyed a strong start to the season.

“We know Hawthorn is a very good side, well‑coached, well‑drilled and hard to beat in Tasmania,” Senior Coach Damien Hardwick said.

“They are strong in all facets, but there are some areas that we think we can exploit.

“What we’ve got to do is understand it’s going to be a high‑contest, high‑pressure game. We’ve just got to absorb the pressure as best as we can and, most importantly, bring our own.”

Despite the climate differing from the sunny Gold Coast, UTAS Stadium shares similarities with the SUNS’ home ground, presenting a small advantage the team will look to leverage.

“Any time you travel it’s tough, but UTAS Stadium is a similar style of venue to People First Stadium,” Hardwick said.

“There is a little bit of wind that is challenging, especially with goal‑kicking, but I think our style of game suits the venue down there.

“That’s not to say it isn’t going to be a challenge on their home deck, but we’re looking forward to taking the challenge on.”

The SUNS’ Tasmanian duo of senior midfielder Lachie Weller and 2025 draftee Avery Thomas will travel back to their ‘home’ soil this weekend. Tasmania has become a recognised breeding ground for football, highlighted by the AFL granting the 19th licence to the Tasmanian Devils.

For Weller, this weekend’s match will be his first since announcing his contract extension on Monday, a move Hardwick says reflects the club heading in the right direction.

“Lachie is one of those players who is underrated outside our four walls, but we know what he does and what he brings,” the Senior Coach said.

“He’s one of those players who makes the teammates around him better too, which to me is always the ultimate compliment as a player.

“Avery will travel with us as well, but he won’t play this weekend as he’s got a sore AC joint. He’s a really promising player.”

Alongside the Tasmanian‑born pair will be a group of Gold Coast stars pulling on the ANZAC Appeal Round guernsey. For one player, however, this weekend will mark a special first.

2025 recruit Jamarra Ugle‑Hagan is set to run out for his first AFL game in almost 600 days and make his highly anticipated SUNS debut.

“We told Jamarra this morning in front of the group that he will debut this week, which is very exciting, and there was a tear from the player and the coach too,” Hardwick said.

“But names on paper don’t mean anything, so we’ve got to bring all facets and all phases of the game, and that’s our challenge.

“We’re probably going in as the underdogs, but there’s no place better to be.”

The full team to face Hawthorn will be named at 6:20pm AEST tonight.

Catch all the action as the SUNS take on the Hawks on Saturday at 12:30pm AEST, live on Kayo and Fox Footy, or at a discounted rate with a SUNS Digital Membership.