For two and a bit quarters, Gold Coast threatened to take their biggest AFL scalp.

Instead Hawthorn kept their heads, and a brutal third quarter onslaught proved the difference as they beat the brave Suns by 26 points at the MCG on Sunday.

Lance Franklin booted five goals and Jarryd Roughead and Shaun Burgoyne three each as the Hawks ran out 18.10 (118) to 14.8 (92) winners – a margin which flattered the premiership favourites.

The Suns matched and bettered a sloppy Hawthorn for most of the first half, and took an 11-point lead into halftime as captain Gary Ablett and youngster Dion Prestia starred.

But the Hawks responded to the challenge in the third quarter – led by Jordan Lewis, Sam Mitchell and the unheralded Jonathan Simpkin through the midfield with 30 touches for the term between them.

Trailing by 17 points as Gold Coast’s Brandon Matera kicked an early third quarter goal, the Hawks responded with the next six goals of the term – including three in four minutes.

That flexing of the Hawks’ muscle proved the key as they carried a 20-point lead to three-quarter-time, and the Suns kept pace for the rest of the match.

The Suns closed to within 14 points early in the final quarter as Aaron Hall booted one of his five goals for the match.

But the Hawks closed out the match, with Roughead and Franklin booting two each in the term.

Mitchell finished with 35 disposals.

Ablett was superb for the Suns, with three goals and 37 possessions.

Hawthorn climbed back to the top of the ladder following their eighth win in nine matches this season, while the Suns are 4-5.

Hawks defender Josh Gibson may also find match review panel strife on Monday for a fourth quarter punch to the head of Suns youngster Tom Lynch.