A herculean performance from Bryce Gibbs has spearheaded Carlton to a 10-point win over Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium and kept its unlikely finals hopes flickering.
The Blues led by 29 points early in the third term, relinquished the lead during the fourth, but then steadied to win 12.11 (83) to 11.7 (73).
The victory is their second in succession and moves them to a 5-7 win-loss record.
Michael Barlow was stretchered off halfway through the final quarter with a leg injury.
Gibbs was a colossus, finishing with 43 disposals and two crucial goals in the fourth term when the heat was on.
His first was a set shot from 50m, and the second a brilliant baulk and finish from 40m when his side fell behind.
Gibbs' second goal would put the Blues in front for the final time, before Jack Silvagni and Jed Lamb iced the job with the next two goals.
Gibbs also laid 10 tackles and had seven clearances in a best-on-ground display.
He had plenty of help though as Kade Simpson (33), Marc Murphy (31) and Sam Docherty (30) were also prolific.
Ed Curnow (21 touches) waged an enthralling duel with SUNS superstar Gary Ablett (25) and had the better of the contest, while reborn defender Liam Jones completely blanketed SUNS captain Tom Lynch.
Lynch kicked seven goals when the teams met earlier this season, but Jones kept him goalless this time and restricted him to just 10 disposals and one mark.
Carlton thoroughly deserved its win after absolutely dominating the first half.
It should have been more than 24 points in front at the main break, but poor kicking for goal kept the home team in it.
Jack Martin kicked three goals and Jarryd Lyons two as the SUNS midfield was outplayed.
Carlton set the physical tone right from the opening bounce.
Curnow pushed, bumped, whacked and harassed Ablett any chance he got – as did every Blues player that came within striking distance of the SUNS champion.
Their midfield decimated Gold Coast's in the first two quarters.
Carlton led the disposals (227-138) and inside 50s (32-13) and just some wayward kicking in front of goal gave the SUNS a slight sniff they didn't deserve.
GOLD COAST 1.1 3.2 7.6 11.7 (73)
CARLTON 4.4 6.8 7.9 12.11 (83)
GOALS
Gold Coast: Lyons 2, Martin 2, Sexton, Matera, Lemmens, Barlow, Martin, Swallow, Wright
Carlton: Thomas 2, Gibbs 2, Silvagni 2, Petrevski-Seton, C.Curnow, E.Curnow, Boekhorst, Wright, Lamb
BEST
Gold Coast: Lyons, Swallow, Barlow, Ablett
Carlton: Gibbs, Simpson, Docherty, Jones, Kreuzer, Murphy, E.Curnow
INJURIES
Gold Coast: Barlow (lower leg)
Carlton: Nil
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Meredith, Harris, Ryan, Mitchell
Official crowd: 11,936 at Metricon Stadium
