Lloyd Meek down to Jai Newcombe, who exploded out the front of stoppage and sent it deep to Mitch Lewis. Lewis created a predictable drop for the dynamic Connor MacDonald, who snapped Hawthorn's third goal in three minutes early in the last quarter last weekend.
It was arguably the match-winner, sapping Gold Coast and extending the margin to 25 points.
Hawthorn scored 32 points from centre stoppages against the Suns after concerning signs at centre stoppages in the weeks leading into the bye.
“We've worked on centre bounce for a considerable part of the year and we're starting to see change in there which has been positive,” Hawthorn midfield coach David Mackay told Zero Hanger.
“We'll keep going after it. You have to continually be giving yourself the best opportunity in there and all the craft you do around that specific part of the game tells over a period of time.”
Earlier in the season, the Hawks fell away significantly late in the game against Fremantle, did not capitalise on their clearances in a close loss to Western Bulldogs and started terribly in that area against Adelaide
Will Day's return has been timely, with Hawthorn winning just one of the four games prior to his return, and he provided a reminder of his talent last Friday night and looks primed for a big finish to the season after his shoulder injury.
Skipper Jai Newcombe has reinforced his credentials as a bona fide on-baller in 2026.
But whether the club has a strong and deep enough midfield around that pair to go all the way in 2026 has been a point of contention since images of an exasperated Tom Petroro emerged from Marvel Stadium at the end of the 2025 AFL Trade Period as it became clear his client, Zach Merrett, would not be a Hawk this year.
“I won't be getting into individual players but what I do now is our list management has been pretty open about trying to improve our list…we're going to try and do that at season's end,” Mitchell said on Channel 7's Agenda Setters on Monday.
Be that as it may, it won't help them hoist a 14th flag in 2026, putting the onus on the young midfielders to step up and assist Newcombe and Day.
Pressure
It is noteworthy that Hawthorn sit second for disposals and third tackles this year.
It is the blueprint Hawthorn has become synonymous with under Mitchell and verifies the pub test that Hawthorn's intent and competitiveness is close to unmatched.
It's an aspect of their game that will come to the fore in September when the pressure lifts and puts them in a strong position to hold up when the game is at its hottest.
Day is the only player who rates elite for tackles at the Hawks this year and has played just three games, with an evenness in numbers across the rest of the squad which speaks to a mentality to hunt as a pack, making them dangerous.
MacKenzie, in particular, has improved what he does without the footy making Hawthorn one of the hardest teams to beat in the bubble.
“Cam's had some outstanding games with his intensity around the ball, fast feet, and impact,” MacKay said.
“The one thing he has worked really hard on has been the defensive side of his game and he has made a lot of inroads in that space which has allowed him to come in and play consistent level of AFL footy through the midfield so I've been pleased with how he's developed.”
