For the second week in succession the Suns were heavily outscored in the final term, but unlike six days earlier against Greater Western Sydney where they were over-run, were able to hold off the Demons to collect four premiership points.
The game went through dramatic momentum swings after Gold Coast stormed to a 36-point advantage at quarter-time.
They led by 46 at the last change and then conceded five final quarter goals as the visitors gave themselves an outside sniff of springing a huge upset.
With his team now back in the top eight, Hardwick said 80 percent of their performance was good, but the other 20 “needs work”.
“We have too many errors that cost us goals,” Hardwick said.
“I thought we should have been 10 goals up at three-quarter-time. Unfortunately, when you let an experienced side such as Melbourne back in, they can get a run on and that’s what happened at the end.
“We let the game unfold and it was a disappointing finish.
“We’ll acknowledge that we won the game, but we’ve got some work-ons, absolutely.”
The Suns led by 22 points at the final change against the Giants last weekend, but conceded eight goals to three to lose by seven points.
This wasn’t quite as dramatic, but a warning sign for a team trying to make the first Finals appearance in club history.
“It’s the good to great we’re after,” Hardwick said.
“We’re a good side. Great sides, that doesn’t happen. You don’t give up 5.6 in the final quarter from 12 (16) entries.
“The important thing is we got the win. The next most important thing is the growth that comes from that last quarter.
“We let a side back in a game we firmly had control of.”
Hardwick’s counterpart Simon Goodwin was equally frustrated, but for different reasons, following his team’s “unacceptable” first quarter.
After trailing heavily at the first change, Melbourne overcame the loss of both Blake Howes and Harrison Petty to concussion before half-time to throw a late scare into the Suns.
Goodwin said there was a “level of frustration” with the result.
“You sit here with mixed emotions,” he said.
“That first quarter was unacceptable in terms of our ability to win the ball, our ability to pressure the ball, our ability to get our hands on the ball.
“Gold Coast were unbelievable, but we were miles off early in the game and clearly that was the game.
“At quarter time you’re 37-1 down and we could have been more down.
“You sit here the last three quarters really proud of the group. The grit, two players down with concussion, the ability to fight … and you see a team grow.
“You walk away with a disappointing result in an outcome-based sport. It’s frustrating.”
Earlier in the day, veteran defender Jake Lever had 17 disposals, that included 13 marks, in Casey’s nine-point VFL loss to the Suns after he was demoted during the week.
