Gold Coast will play its first-ever finals series after its stirring 95-point win over Essendon on Wednesday night.
The unusual fixture was due to the Opening Round clash being postponed, and made for interesting viewing as the contest had plenty of September ramifications.
Gold Coast recorded its 15th win of 2025, which is four more than ever before.
The Suns finished seventh and will travel to Perth to take on Fremantle, while Hawthorn slipped to eighth and will take on GWS in Sydney.
But after back-to-back losses, including a shock defeat to an emotionally-charged Port Adelaide, all the pressure was on Damien Hardwick's men to achieve something they've never done before.
"We probably felt a little bit tight in the previous two weeks, didn't handle our moments as well as we should," Hardwick said.
"I thought we put that to bed tonight, got the monkey off our back a little bit, I'd say.
"I'm really proud of the way our players responded."
Gold Coast will prepare for the biggest trip in the AFL competition (Queensland to Western Australia) when they face the Dockers on Saturday, September 6.
The pair faced off in Round 12, producing a close encounter where Fremantle prevailed by 11 points.
But the last time they travelled to Optus Stadium was in Round 1 against West Coast, securing an 87-point win. They played the Dockers there last year in Round 15 and went down by 20 points.
"We always give ourselves a chance. Even in the games we've been beaten, we've been in front at critical stages," he said.
"They're a side that never gives up. Sometimes we get beaten, but at least we have a crack and come back and fight it out.
"I'm confident if we play our best, we're a very, very good chance of winning that game.
"What you've got to have is belief and confidence in what you do and how you play.
"We've certainly got a team identity. I think it stands up in big games."
Key players Daniel Rioli and Bailey Humphrey got through the game unscathed upon their return to the senior side.
Emerging talent Will Graham will also come into selection consideration, while Hardwick also alluded to the "really, really hard decision" surrounding inaugural Sun David Swallow.
