Saturday fifth AFL Round 4 match is between Gold Coast Suns and Hawthorn Hawks with the game to be played at Metricon Stadium. The opening bounce is set to commence at 7.40pm with away team Gold Coast Suns currently holding favouritism. View our AFL live scores, odds and results for the game between Gold Coast Suns and Hawthorn Hawks.

Round: Round 4, Saturday April 12, 7.40pm
Stadium: Metricon Stadium
Weather: 31° Shower or two.

Odds Comparison:

Gold Coast Suns	4.00	4.00	4.35	4.00	4.00	4.30
Hawthorn Hawks	1.26	1.25	1.23	1.25	1.26	1.22

All odds are subject to change. Odds listed are correct at the time of the latest update.

Preview:

The Suns take on the Hawks on Saturday night, 7.40PM at Metricon Stadium.  While the Hawks will be favourites to win this one, the Suns will be confident after
managing to beat the Lions in the QClash last round.  Last year’s premiers are in great form, however, and will be very difficult to beat, despite the Suns having won 7 matches from their past 9 at Metricon Stadium.  Even though Hawthorn should win this match easily in theory, the Suns are thinking big at the moment and anything is possible.

Teams:

Gold Coast Suns:

B: M.Warnock, S.May, G.Broughton
HB: S.Lemmens, C.Cameron, T.McKenzie
C: M.Shaw, G.Ablett, J.Harbrow
HF: A.Hall, TJ.Lynch, D.Stanley
F: K.Kolodjashnij, S.Day, R.Thompson
FOLL: T.Nicholls, J.O’Meara, D.Swallow
I/C: J.Hutchins, M.Rischitelli, L.Russell, D.Prestia
EMG: T.Murphy, K.Hunt, J.Taylor
IN: J.Hutchins
OUT: B.Matera

Hawthorn Hawks:
B: L.Hodge, K.Cheney, S.Mitchell
HB: S.Burgoyne, J.Gibson, G.Birchall
C: W.Langford, J.Lewis, I.Smith
HF: L.Breust, J.Roughead, B.Hill
F: J.Gunston, D.Hale, P.Puopolo
FOLL: J.Ceglar, L.Shiels, C.Rioli
I/C: T.Duryea, J.Simpkin, M.Spangher, M.Suckling
EMG: M.Hallahan, A.Litherland, D.Wanganeen
IN: L.Hodge
OUT: A.Litherland

News:

Karmichael Hunt’s lack of match fitness is the only reason he’s not lining up for Gold Coast this weekend against AFL premiers Hawthorn.

Hunt was overlooked to take on the Hawks by the Suns’ match committee with young swingman Jack Hutchins getting the nod instead.

The former rugby league star’s absence again raised questions over his future at the Suns with several first-teamers, including Brandon Matera, Jesse Lonergan, Jack Martin and Charlie Dixon, all sidelined through injury.

But coach Guy McKenna says Hunt’s omission is nothing more than a reflection of his fitness levels after an injury-disrupted pre-season.

“We didn’t want to put him in given our midfield and the numbers they’re producing are really good, really solid,” McKenna said.

“To make him a sub doesn’t help him because it’s all about fitness for him.

“At the moment he’s just not at that level. We think another week and then he’s right to go.”

The Suns were given a huge boost during the week with Steven May successfully challenging a rough conduct charge on Tuesday night.

The big defender will be needed against the in-form Hawks, who demolished Fremantle last weekend in an astonishing display.

The addition of skipper Luke Hodge only adds to the challenge facing McKenna’s men.

After winning five of their past six matches at home, McKenna is talking tough before Saturday’s clash, challenging his team to prove themselves against the competition benchmark.

“Mentally and physically we’re in good shape to take on the premiers from last year so let’s take them on,” McKenna said.

“I don’t think we can discount what our group did to Brisbane … we found another gear. We’re probably going to have to find another gear against Hawthorn.

“We’re now ready to take that step and certainly looking forward to the opportunity on Saturday night.”

Hawthorn have only travelled once to play the Suns on the Gold Coast when a team shorn of several stars won in the final round of the Suns’ debut season in 2011.

Last year the Suns gave a good account against the Hawks at the MCG, eventually succumbing to a 26-point defeat, and coach Alastair Clarkson is clearly wary of the rising threat posed by this weekend’s opponents.

“Their whole midfield has come on in leaps and bounds,” Clarkson said.

“There’s a lot to like about the way they’re going about things.”