DAMIEN Hardwick expects Daniel Rioli to miss "some time" after the running defender suffered a jaw injury following a collision with Josh Weddle on Friday night.

Rioli was taken from the field during the second quarter of Gold Coast's 16-point loss to Hawthorn and did not return following the incident.

The three-time premiership player had fired off a handball on centre wing when he met the shoulder of a bracing Weddle in an incident sure to be looked at by Match Review Officer, Michael Christian.

Speaking at his post-match press conference, Hardwick was brief with details on Rioli's wellbeing.

"He's gone for scans," Hardwick said.

"He'll miss some time. We'll let the doctors give the update on that."

"It was two things. They're 5.4 from centre bounce and eight goals from turning the ball over in our front half, which was just Suns killing Suns," Hardwick said.

"Don’t get me wrong, Hawthorn played a reasonable game, but we just didn't help ourselves, which was frustrating.

"You're judged by outcome, you're judged by the scoreboard, but our game for most of the night apart from the 20 per cent with the centre bounce was pretty strong, but we just couldn't get the result.

"We won first possession, but we lost scramble balls. We've just got to get better.

"The emphasis is on me to knuckle down and make sure we get it done. It's not through lack of effort, it's through lack of detail."

Hardwick said he expected lockdown defender Wil Powell (shoulder) back for next Sunday's trip to Perth to face League leaders Fremantle.