GOLD Coast is inching its way towards finalising a punishment for Jarrod Harbrow, with coach Rodney Eade saying it would happen "by the weekend". 

Harbrow was charged on Monday morning for drink driving, with the club suspending him from playing in Saturday's game against Hawthorn.

The leadership group, coaches and senior management have been in talks since Tuesday to consider a sanction. 

"That's ongoing at the moment, and hopefully that'll be decided by the weekend," Eade said on Thursday. 

The Gold Coast coach said he was "shocked" when he found out on Monday morning Harbrow had registered a blood alcohol reading of 0.108.

Eade was the Western Bulldogs' coach in 2007 when the Dogs drafted Harbrow and has been close with him since.

"I was shocked," Eade said. "He made a big mistake.

"He's done so much good work in the community and so much good work in the indigenous community … I think he's disappointed on all fronts, letting people down.

"I think he's taken it pretty hard, which he should." 

Harbrow's absence against the Hawks is a big one, with the running defender almost certainly in the top three of the Suns' best and fairest at the moment. 

Eade said either Jack Bowes or Mackenzie Willis was likely to replace him. 

Gold Coast hammered Hawthorn by 86 points when they met in round three at Metricon Stadium, but the coach expects to play a totally different outfit at the MCG. 

"I don't think you can take a lot out of it to be honest," he said.

"I think they're playing differently from when we played then. 

"They're a very proud side and a very proud club and they've played some good footy and they play well at the MCG. 

"We think it's going to be a tough contest. If we get over the line by a point, we'll be very happy."