Melbourne has surged into second spot on the ladder, making light work of Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium on Saturday night with a 49-point win.

Three goals late in the opening quarter put an early gap between the teams and the Demons were never troubled, running out 9.4 (58) to 1.3 (9) victors.

The result brings Melbourne level with Brisbane on seven wins, also pushing the SUNS outside the eight on percentage, now trailing the Western Bulldogs who play St Kilda on Sunday.

To their credit, the SUNS never threw the towel in, but were simply outclassed by one of the premiership favourites.

Melbourne effectively locked the ball in the front half of the ground, forcing the SUNS into rushed disposals that normally came back the other way courtesy of Libby Birch and Shelley Heath, who intercepted at will.

After a tight combative contest in the opening 10 minutes, goals to Pearce, Hore and Harris late in the first term blew the game apart.

Harris kicked another early in the second term before Jac Dupuy got Gold Coast on the scoreboard with a strong mark close to goal. It would be the SUNS' only joy of the evening, as Melbourne racked up 88 more disposals, most of them uncontested.

Zanker's goal on the three-quarter time siren as she ripped the ball from a ball-up and threw it directly on her right boot summed up the night for both teams.

Up next
Melbourne has an eight-day break before hosting Essendon at Casey Fields next Sunday from 5.10pm AEDT. Gold Coast will try and keep its finals hopes alive next Friday night when it hosts Carlton at Metricon Stadium, starting at 6.40pm AEST.

GOLD COAST             0.0       1.0       1.3       1.3 (9)

MELBOURNE            3.1       5.1       7.2       9.4 (58) 

GOALS
Gold Coast: Dupuy

Melbourne: Harris 3, Zanker 2, Hore 2, Fitzsimon, Pearce

BEST 
Gold Coast: Drennan, Single, Saad, Rowbottom

Melbourne: Purcell, Mithen, Heath, West, Harris, Hanks

INJURIES 
Gold Coast: Nil

Melbourne: Nil

Reports: Nil