Gold Coast have recorded their second win of the season with a stunning 55 point win over North Melbourne at Metricon Stadium.
In one of their best performances as a club, they dominated the Kangaroos, to record their second win for 2015.
They would start the match by keeping the Kangaroos goal-less for the first quarter and then extend the margin in each quarter to seal a famous win.
>> MATCH REPORT: Gaz-inspired Suns thump Kangaroos
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The loss to the Kangaroos puts their season on the ropes as they remain over a game outside of the eight.
They simply didn’t turn up and leaked easy goals to the team at the bottom of the ladder.
Hardly a glowing endorsement for a team wanting to play finals football.
The only highlight for the match from them was a contender for mark of the year from Lindsay Thomas.
He provided plenty of hang time as he held on to a screamer.
It was a team effort from the Suns with Aaron Hall, Charlie Dixon, Kade Kolodjashnij, and Gary Ablett all starring for Gold Coast.
Ablett, who returned from injury, had 31 touches and kicked two big goals in the final term to give the Suns the win.
Dixon, who was a towering figure, kicked 7 goals – the most from any Sun in a game.
Finally, Hall kicked 3 goals, with Kolodjashnij having 28 disposals as he led the Suns defence.
North will need to do a lot of soul searching before next week.
They are still alive for the finals but need to start winning a few matches in a row.
It all starts next week against Geelong at Etihad Stadium.
Gold Coast will face the Western Bulldogs at Cazaly Stadium.
SUNS 19 11 125
NORTH 10 10 70
Gary Ablett returns as he tries to lift the Gold Coast Suns to their second win of the season against North Melbourne at Metricon Stadium.
Join The Roar for live scores and commentary of the match from 4:40pm AEST.
After missing ten matches, with his shoulder injury from last year, Ablett has been included in the team to play just his third match of the season.
His first two matches in the season were poor by his standard with the injury. It will be interesting to see how he comes back into the game, and the tactics North Melbourne deploy on him.
They will test his shoulder out extensively today and it will be fascinating to see if it can stand up to an AFL game after a ten week rest.
The news is great for Gold Coast who have had another week of off field drama. Karmichael Hunt named 12 players, from the Suns, who were involved in taking cocaine with him during the last few months of his contract with the club.
Later this week Harley Bennell had pictures of him with lines of speed published in News Limited publications. The club are close to being in damage control at the moment and it is hard to see how they can focus on on-field matches.
They face a team they have won the last two matches against though. In 2013, and 2014, they defeated the Kangaroos home and away.
Last year, in Round 7, they had one of their most impressive performances away from home with a 43 point win. Repeating that task looks extremely difficult today. The Kangaroos are fighting for a top eight spot and could move level with those teams with a win today.
Before the bye in Round 13 they defeated GWS comfortably as they impressed against the depleted squad. They will be looking to continue that form today and have made one change. Ben Brown is omitted with Majak Daw into the team.
Gold Coast have made four changes with Gary Ablett, David Swallow, Aaron Hall, and Keegan Brooksby into the team. Out is Andrew Raines, Jarrod Harbrow, Harley Bennell, and Sean Lemmens.
The battle will be in the midfield, and ruck, with North looking strong in that area. Todd Goldstein looks to be a threat today and Gold Coast need to stop him from dominating in the ruck.
The addition of Ablett and Swallow will help Gold Coast but it looks difficult for them to win after the season they have had so far.
Combine that with off-field issues and the Kangaroos should continue their push for a top eight spot with a win.
PREDICTION – Kangaroos by 30 points.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
Full results and stats to come later in the night. I'm about to blog the NRL match between the Dragons and the Cowboys so join me over there for that. A report will come later as well.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
FULL TIME Gold Coast have recorded the 4th largest win of their existence with a 55 point smashing against North Melbourne at Metricon Stadium. That is probably their most impressive win in their 101 games as a club. GOLD COAST 19 11 125 NORTH MELBOURNE 10 10 70
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
Q4 - 2:23 Drew Petrie adds a consolation goal for the Kangaroos. Margin is down to 55. SUNS 19 11 125 NORTH 10 10 70
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
Q4 - 3:17 Behind to North Melbourne. SUNS 19 11 125 NORTH 9 10 64
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
Q4 - 4:29 Gold Coast kick another goal and the margin is 62 points. Aaron Hall finds Sexton and he kicks his first for the night. SUNS 19 11 125 NORTH 9 9 63
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
Q4 - 6:00 Dixon gets a free kick for a hold but he can't kick his 8th goal. He misses. SUNS 18 11 119 NORTH 9 9 63
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
Q4 - 6:38 Charlie Dixon has had a night out. He marks and kicks his 7th goal. That is a new club record. SUNS 18 10 118 NORTH 9 9 63
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
Q4 - 8:21 Apparently Chris Scott comes back to coach the club next week. He has a big task to do. Top 8 isn't impossible but a loss like this makes it hard.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
Q4 - 9:35 You have got to be kidding me. What a goal by Dixon. He is held by a player in the goal square and still goals. He picks up the ball and back heels the ball through for a goal. That is a contender for goal of the year. SUNS 17 10 112 NORTH 9 9 63
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
Q4 - 9:57 Brilliant play from Nahas leads to another goal. He kicks to Ziebell who marks and goals inside 50. Margin back down to 43. SUNS 16 10 106 NORTH 9 9 63
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
Q4 - 11:17 North get the clearance and Petrie grabs the crumbs. He quickly dribbles a ball along the ground for a goal. That is his second for the night. SUNS 16 10 106 NORTH 8 9 57
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
Q4 - 11:29 One must ask the question of where this has been during the season. Aaron Hall snaps his third goal for the night and the Suns lead by 55. That's right 55. SUNS 16 10 106 NORTH 7 9 51
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
Q4 - 12:44 Y'ABBBBBBBLLLLLEEEETTTT Rischitelli passes to Ablett inside 50 and the superstar does the rest. He runs to 45 and drop punts on the run for a goal. Gold Coast have responded to each challenge today. SUNS 15 10 100 NORTH 7 9 51
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
Q4 - 13:16 A bad pass from Charlie Dixon gives North a goal. They rebound and Jarrad Waite kicks his first goal for the night. SUNS 14 10 94 NORTH 7 9 51
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
Q4 - 13:44 Running bounces - Gold Coast 19 North 1
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
Q4 - 14:55 I could seriously watch Ahmed Saad play every day of the week. The attacking nature of the kid is amazing. He takes the ball, at half back, and runs and bounces towards the 50. He then picks out Charlie Dixon with a pin point pass. Dixon kicks his 5th goal of the night and that is definitely the game. What a result. SUNS 14 10 94 NORTH 6 9 45
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
Q4 - 16:35 They will be happy on the Gold Coast tonight. A great team goal. A chain of hand passes, inside 50, falls to Aaron Hall and he kicks his 2nd goal for the night. This game is almost over. SUNS 13 10 88 NORTH 6 9 45
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
Q4 - 17:38 They move into the 50 and Dixon marks. He tries to kick his 5th goal but misses. Suns by 37. SUNS 12 10 82 NORTH 6 9 45
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
Q4 - 18:20 This has been Kolodjashnij's best match of his career. He takes an intercept mark inside North's 50 and Gold Coast rebound.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
Q4 - 19:28 He is still the best. Gary Ablett what a star. Gold Coast get a ball up in their 50, and the ball falls to him. He picks it up and snaps a goal from 47 metres out. Just too easy for this freak. Suns by 36. SUNS 12 9 81 NORTH 6 9 45