JACK Gunston and Luke Breust have always been competitive as best mates at Hawthorn. 

So coach Sam Mitchell thought there was something poetic about Gunston lighting up the MCG gloom with seven goals in their 36-point win over Melbourne.

The 13.14 (92) to 8.8 (56) win all but confirmed the Hawks' finals berth, with next Sunday's huge clash at the Gabba against reigning premier Brisbane to have a major bearing on the order of the top eight.

Two days after Breust announced this season will be his last, Gunston's 7.4 took him to 60 goals for the season – a career-best haul.

It also equalled his best haul in a game, set in round 16 this season against North Melbourne, and took the 33-year-old a big step closer to his second All-Australian nod.

"It's Luke Breust's big day and of course Jack goes out and kicks seven," Mitchell said.

"He's started the majority of this year and even last year as basically a defensive forward. 

"Now, to be – I would say – a lock for the All-Australian side, it's a pretty special time for him as a 33-year-old."

Among setbacks such as injuries to Josh Weddle and Will Day, Gunston's outstanding form clearly is an unexpected bonus for the Hawks.

The plan at the start of the season was that the main role for Gunston and Breust was to help Adrian Hickmott coach the rest of the forward line.

"What he's been able to do on the field is probably beyond most of our thoughts and dreams ... I'm not going to get in his way," Mitchell said.