GOLD Coast has used a scintillating third quarter to roar into the top four with a 45-point demolition of the Western Bulldogs at Metricon Stadium on Sunday.
After a close first half, the Suns ran riot after the break, kicking eight goals to one in a decisive third quarter to win 18.11 (119) to 10.14 (74).
And they did it with a quieter game than usual from skipper Gary Ablett.
PHOTO GALLERY: Round 10 - Gold Coast v Western Bulldogs
Ablett had just eight disposals until half-time and, despite significantly lifting after the break to finish with 24, got plenty of help from his young teammates.
Dion Prestia was prolific with 35 touches and Matt Shaw played arguably his best game for the club, running the wing and finishing with 23 disposals and a goal.
With better supply, vice-captain Tom Lynch was a powerhouse with four goals, along with his key forward partner Charlie Dixon (four), while small forwards Brandon Matera (three), Harley Bennell (two) and Luke Russell (two) were also clever around goals.
The win was Gold Coast's fifth straight and moves them to 7-2 and into third spot behind Port Adelaide and Geelong.
They play Adelaide at Adelaide Oval next Sunday.
"A win's a win, that's what you have to do," Suns coach Guy McKenna said.
"The most pleasing thing out of the game … was we thought our way through a game of football."
Despite fighting it out in the final quarter, it was a disappointing day for the Dogs who also had Adam Cooney reported for high contact on Ablett in the second quarter.
Bulldogs coach Brendan McCartney was left to lament a host of missed chances in the first half.
"We had some great chances at the end of the second quarter and the start of the third quarter to play footy and put pressure on them and we went into our shells, lost confidence and they lifted," McCartney said.
"All areas of the game they lifted and we didn’t. We just lost a smidgeon of belief for five minutes.
"We played a quality team in really good form and for 60 minutes we had the game on our terms."
VIDEO: Watch Coach Brendan McCartney's Full Post Match Press Conference
Despite fighting it out in the final quarter, it was a disappointing day for the Dogs who also had Adam Cooney reported for high contact on Ablett in the second quarter.
While Gold Coast's two previous wins over North Melbourne and St Kilda were built on blistering first quarters, this one was hard fought after overcoming a lethargic first half.
The Bulldogs were ferocious in the first two quarters and probably should have had a lead, aside from some poor kicking.
But the Suns started winning clearances and the rest followed.
Ablett's frustration built as he had just three touches in the first quarter and headed to the huddle holding his left elbow.
He returned for the second quarter though and had just five touches, including one wild kick out on the full.
Ablett got into a lengthy chat with the umpires about Picken's close checking, then got into some aggressive push-and-shove with Jesse Stringer and was finally on the receiving end of the Cooney incident.
The usual suspects of Matthew Boyd (30), Ryan Griffen (28) and Tom Liberatore (27 and nine clearances) got plenty of ball, but Luke Dahlhaus (27, including 20 to half-time) and classy Jack Macrae (25) were super impressive.
VOTE NOW: Cast your 3,2 and 1 votes for the Bulldogs' Most Valuable player against the Suns.
GOLD COAST 4.0 7.2 15.9 18.11(119)
WESTERN BULLDOGS 3.3 5.8 6.10 10.14 (74)
GOALS
Gold Coast: Dixon 4, Lynch 4, Matera 3, Bennell 2, Russell 2, Swallow, Lynch, Smith
Western Bulldogs: Tutt 2, Cooney 2, Giansiracusa 2, Murphy, Stevens, Griffen, Dahlhaus
BEST
Gold Coast: Lynch, Shaw, Harbrow, Prestia, Ablett,
Western Bulldogs: Griffen, Cooney, Picken, Dahlhaus, Macrae
INJURIES
Gold Coast: Nil
Western Bulldogs: Nil
SUBSTITUTES
Gold Coast: Sean Lemmons on for Sam Day in the fourth quarter.
Western Bulldogs: Daniel Giansiracusa on for Brett Goodes in the third quarter.
Reports: Cooney (high contact)
VIDEO: View the incident that saw Adam Cooney reported.
Umpires: Fisher, Nicholls and Ryan
Official crowd: 14,235 at Metricon Stadium
