THE WESTERN Bulldogs have vaulted back up the ladder with a comfortable 48-point win over an injury-depleted Gold Coast at Cazaly’s Stadium in Cairns.

The Bulldogs led at every change on Saturday night to continue their unbeaten record in far north Queensland, with the 15.17 (107) to 8.11 (59) result moving them past the Sydney Swans and Geelong and into third spot.

The midfield was the key battleground and it was there the Suns were simply blown away, having lost their three best onballers - Gary Ablett, Michael Rischitelli and Dion Prestia - last week to major injuries.

Their stand-ins battled manfully, but the Bulldogs' top-tier players gorged on clearances (36-26) and contested ball (132-115) and victory for them never looked in doubt.

Koby Stevens (34 disposals, seven clearances) was their leading possession getter while Mitch Wallis and Clay Smith kicked three goals.

Tom Boyd also made an encouraging return and was mobbed by teammates when he kicked a monster 50m set-shot goal to start the third quarter.

Tom Lynch, expected to succeed Ablett next season as Suns captain, booted three goals.

Aided by a strong breeze, the Bulldogs kicked six goals in the first term - Smith and Stevens both grabbing two apiece - and were 42 points ahead at the long break.

The Suns struggled to break their defensive shackles, scoring just five goals after quarter-time.

WESTERN BULLDOGS  6.5  11.9  12.5  15.17  (107) 
GOLD COAST                3.2   5.3   6.8     8.11    (59) 

GOALS
Western Bulldogs: Smith 3, Wallis 3, Picken 2, Stevens 2, Stringer, Redpath, Jong, Boyd, Dickson
Gold Coast: Lynch 3, Ah Chee 2, Matera 2, Davis

BEST 
Western Bulldogs: Wood, Stevens, Biggs, Bontempelli, Smith, Macrae, Hunter
Gold Coast: Lynch, Kolodjashnij, Miller, Ah Chee, Shaw

INJURIES 
Western Bulldogs: Stringer (shoulder)
Gold Coast: Nil 

Reports: Nil

Umpires: DeBoy, McInerney, Mollison

Crowd: 8,509 at Cazaly's Stadium