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NOT even another super-human effort from skipper Gary Ablett was enough as the Gold Coast Suns suffered a nine-point loss to Hawthorn in their final game of their inaugural AFL season at Metricon Stadium.
In front of a good crowd of 19,314, the Suns tried everything to score what would have been their first win at their new home.
They dominated possession and inside 50s but once again struggled to convert their opportunities as Hawthorn ran away winners, 16.10 (106) to 14.13 (97).
Ablett was again outstanding and can be assured of another three Brownlow votes after collecting 43 possessions and 13 clearances in a best on ground performance.
Youngsters Harley Bennell and Brandon Matera, both of whom kicked two goals, were also very good.
The Hawks rested eight players as they look ahead to next week's qualifying final and the Coast were determined to take advantage right from the opening bounce.
Defender Nathan Bock started up forward for the Suns and bobbed up as the unlikely first goalscorer.
For the first time in a long time the Coast were looking dangerous up forward with Matera and Fraser both kicking two goals apiece in the first term.
They led by nine points at the first change and would have been by more if not for a dodgy bounce late in the term.
Trent 'The Cannon' McKenzie narrowly missed out on what would have been the goal of the year when he let fly from 75m out on the run.
The monster kick landed in the goal square but bounced backwards in a rotten piece of luck.
But it did not deter the plucky Suns, who went on with it in the second term.
Matera was up and about and soon added his third goal for the match.
Bennell and second-gamer Josh Caddy then both kicked goals as the home side found themselves up by 11 points at the main break.
They found life more difficult in the third term and allowed the Hawks to kick away.
Hawthorn added six goals for the term while the Suns could manage only two through Zac Smith and Caddy as they trailed by 10 points at three quarter-time.
The Suns' final term was inspired as they fought all the way back from four goals down to trail by a goal with five minutes remaining.
But a dubious free kick and goal to Hawks' big man Paul Johnson with just under two minutes remaining sealed the match.
http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/2011/09/03/346401_gold-coast-afl.html
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