Gold Coast coach Guy McKenna wants his AFL team to not just endure the challenge posed by the second half of the season, but relish it.

Fatigue will inevitably be an issue for the last-placed Suns, as the grind of the season takes its toll.

They rested David Swallow and Zac Smith for Saturday's 71-point loss to Hawthorn in Launceston, and fellow first-year player Trent McKenzie was also likely to have a short break.

McKenna said the rest of the season would be a major test for the Suns, but he was also reminded of a favourite saying by his old coach Mick Malthouse.

"Mick used to say the hardest steel is forged in the hottest fires," McKenna said.

"We know the fire. We have a massive finish to the season coming up where there are no easy games for us.

"I just said to the boys 'you should look at that hardness, with a smile on your face. You've got to want to bring it on'.

"Out of all this, we'll get better, but if you cower away and you're not prepared to put your body on the line and work as hard as we expect you to work, well you're not going to improve."

The Suns were honest against Hawthorn, particularly in the first half, but eventually were outclassed by a team in the top four.

They only trailed by three points, when Tom Lynch goaled 14 minutes into the second term, and did not kick another goal until four minutes into the final quarter.

"We're certainly not happy with our fadeouts. It's sort of acceptable but unacceptable," McKenna said.

"I can't fault the boys' endeavour.

"It's a thing with any young kid playing senior footy and I know we have a lot of them. We talk about that each week, but it's just them playing smarter.

"I can't fault their hardness."

McKenna praised Nathan Bock as "exceptional" in his game on Hawks' star Lance Franklin, while Danny Stanley worked hard and Lynch impressed with three goals.

"You just don't have to ask him to work. He's a competitor - hegot the results and rewards today," McKenna said of Lynch.

Captain Gary Ablett had 33 disposals and Michael Rischitelli was also solid through the midfield.

Karmichael Hunt had an experimental spell in the midfield during the last term and he had two centre clearances, one of which resulted in a goal.

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