Hawthorn dominated the midfield and scored their goals in rapid spurts as Gold Coast crumbled to a fourth-straight defeat and lost defender Daniel Rioli to injury.
The Hawks won 17.11 (113) to 14.13 (97) at Carrara's People First Stadium on Friday night to improve to 9-1-4 and third place.
Dylan Moore kicked four goals and the Hawks midfield dominated the centre clearances 20-12, the Suns losing all nine in the third term and being flattered by winning the last four of the game.
Ben Long booted four goals for the Suns while Noah Anderson amassed 43 touches, nine more than any other player on the ground.
Mac Andrew and Joel Jeffrey were solid at the back for the Suns, but Hawthorn's ball-up dominance and their quick-fire goals in the first, third and fourth quarters proved the difference in front of 19,576 fans.
