Melbourne has moved to the cusp of the top eight, taking care of Gold Coast by 73 points at Metricon Stadium on Saturday night.
The Demons led by just five points at half-time, but ran riot in the second half, kicking 16 goals to six, to run out 24.16 (160) to 14.3 (87) winners.
They kicked nine goals in a breathtaking third term to set up victory.
It was a dark night for Rodney Eade's men, with Matt Rosa (hamstring) and Alex Sexton (forearm) taken off either side of quarter-time and not returning.
Melbourne was relentless in notching its fourth win of the season, to leave them out of the top eight on percentage alone.
They dominated all areas, winning the disposals (412-317), clearances (48-30), contested possessions (169-133) and the inside 50s by a landslide 75-37.
Max Gawn continued his stellar season in the ruck, and was the best player on the ground in a great team performance.
The big man finished with 17 disposals, 46 hitouts and two first-half goals.
He started the third quarter avalanche by laying on goals to standout midfielders Jack Viney and skipper Nathan Jones with deft stoppage taps right into their paths.
Gawn's midfield totally outplayed the SUNS, with contributions from Jones (33 touches), Bernie Vince (28), James Harmes (26) and Viney (24).
They had eight multiple goalkickers, led by three each to Cam Pedersen, Jeff Garlett and Harmes.
Former number two draft pick Christian Petracca showed a glimpse of his potential, kicking his first two career goals in the final term and finishing with 24 disposals.
The SUNS were always pushing a loaded barrow uphill after Rosa and Sexton were carted off, but there can be no excuses.
The only reason they were as close as five points at the end of the first half was the imperious play of forward Tom Lynch.
Melbourne led the inside 50 count 34-17 at the main break, but Lynch kept his team in the contest with four goals.
Seemingly every time the SUNS went forward, Lynch was either there to kick a goal or pave the way for another with his contest, as the ball was drawn to him like a magnet.
Melbourne established its lead with the final three goals of the half to Gawn, Jones and Dean Kent, and never looked back.
GOLD COAST 4. 2 8. 2 11.3 14. 3 (87)
MELBOURNE 2. 3 8. 7 17. 11 24. 16 (160)
GOALS
Gold Coast: Lynch 4, Ablett 2, Jarrod Garlett 2, Wright 2, Currie, Grant, Hall, MacPherson
Melbourne: Jeff Garlett 3, Harmes 3, Pedersen 3, Gawn 2, Jones 2, Kennedy 2, Petracca 2, Viney 2, Hogan, Kent, Stretch, Tyson, Vince
BEST
Gold Coast: Lynch, Day, Saad, Miller, Harbrow
Melbourne: Gawn, Viney, Jones, Harmes, Vince, Oliver, Bugg
INJURIES
Gold Coast: Rosa (hamstring), Sexton (forearm)
Melbourne: TBC
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Harris, Stephens, Schmitt
Official crowd: 12,780 at Metricon Stadium
