Gold Coast have earned their seventh win of the season with a 116–73 victory over Adelaide at Metricon Stadium on Sunday.
Despite only kicking just the one major in the first term, the Suns were able to wrestle control of the contest through the midfield and get on top of their opponents in Adelaide.
Taking a 28-point lead into half-time, the Suns would never let the margin go back below two goals as Adelaide lacked the polish to make a real run at winning the game.
While the Crows looked to get close in both the third and fourth terms, the Suns’ ability to kick consecutive goals is what earned them the win as they piled on eight majors in the last.
The big story from the game was the sickening injury to Suns defender Wil Powell with the 22-year-old suffering what appeared to be a dislocated knee.
Powell was carted off in the third term under distress with the serious injury, while things didn’t get easier for Gold Coast as Connor Budarick went down with a hamstring injury.
Despite being undermanned, the Suns were able to match the Crows in the midfield and ultimately give their forwards more opportunity with a 62-44 inside 50 win.
While the Suns held field position after the first term, it was Adelaide who won the disposal count comfortably at (325-406). Ultimately though, it was their overuse of handball that cost them gaining any real momentum as they used their hands 195 times compared to the Suns at just 108.
The Suns also had a remarkably even spread across their side, with Izak Rankine (three goals, 17 disposals), Matt Rowell (19 disposals, 11tackles) and Noah Anderson (27 disposals) their best.
For the losing side, Rory Laird found plenty of football with 42 disposals, while Jordan Dawson (one goal, 32 disposals), Jimmy Rowe (one goal, 24 disposals) and Sam Berry (25 disposals, 12 clearances) also impressed.
Now at 7-6, the Suns are just three wins away from their best season of all time which was their 10 wins, 12 losses, 12th placed finish in 2014.
Their finals hopes could be decided in the next month with games to come against Port Adelaide (away), Collingwood, Richmond and Essendon (away) as the ladder tightens up at the top.
The Crows will be hoping to bounce back next week when they head to Hobart to face the Kangaroos at Blundstone Arena on Sunday afternoon.
FULL SCORE
Gold Coast: 1.2, 7.5, 10.7, 18.8. (116)
Adelaide: 2.2, 3.6, 6.11, 10.13 (73)
GOALS
Gold Coast: Ainsworth 3, Rankine 3, Casboult 3, Chol 3, Flanders 2, Holman 2, Davies, Jeffrey
Adelaide: Fogarty 2, Walker, Rowe, McAdam, Dawson, Hamill, Murphy, Rachele, Thilthorpe
BEST
Gold Coast: Izak Rankine, Noah Anderson, Matt Rowell, Ben Ainsworth, David Swallow
Adelaide: Rory Laird, Sam Berry, Jimmy Rowe, Jordan Dawson, Taylor Walker
INJURIES
Gold Coast: Wil Powell (knee), Connor Budarick (hamstring)
Adelaide: Riley Thilthorpe (ankle)