Gold Coast has charged into the top four with a 10.9 (69) to 6.3 (39) win against St Kilda at People First Stadium on Sunday.
The young SUNS struggled early as Jesse Tawhiao-Wardlaw single-handedly kept the Saints in the contest early, but eight second-half goals to one saw Gold Coast steam home to the 30-point victory.
SUNS v SAINTS Full match coverage and stats
Tawhiao-Wardlaw's return to form may give St Kilda fans something to smile about if only for a while, however they will soon be sobered by the fact their side sits winless on the bottom of the ladder ofter seven rounds.
A close first quarter turned the Saints' way in the second as they held a 15-point lead at the long break, but everything reversed when play resumed, as momentum, and the football, started heading towards the SUNS' end of the ground.
Charlie Rowbottom's sensational season continued at full stride as she racked up 38 disposals and nine clearances.
First-year wonder Ava Usher impressed yet again, and Dekota Baron finished with three goals, two of them worthy of any highlight reel.
Tawhiao-Wardlaw entered the game amid a goal-drought of worrying proportions, but made the most of every opportunity through the first two quarters and had four goals under her belt at half-time.
St Kilda inside 50s became a rare commodity in the second half but she managed one more to finish with a career-high five.
Now the Saints have got something to aim for
It's hard to kick a winning score when your star forward has two goals to their name after six rounds, but Jesse Tawhaio-Wardlaw found her mojo in a major way on Sunday. Tawhaio-Wardlaw was grabbing everything that came her way in the first half and kicked four goals by the long break. Opportunities dried up after half-time but there’s no doubt Jesse’s back.
The Red Baron shoots out the lights
Dekota Baron didn't dominate Sunday's game but when she got her chances she shone very very bright. Her first goal was the firestarter the SUNS needed to begin the third quarter, and her last was the punctuation mark on a magnificent second half from Gold Coast. After an injury-plagued first season, Baron is an added element of excitement on the SUNS' young list.
Up next
Gold Coast heads up the highway for a twilight QClash against Brisbane at Brighton Homes Arena on Saturday, while St Kilda will need to lift if it's to break its duck against the Western Bulldogs at Mars Stadium, Ballarat earlier on Saturday afternoon.
GOLD COAST 2.2 2.4 6.6 10.9 (69)
ST KILDA 3.0 5.1 5.2 6.3 (39)
GOALS
Gold Coast: Baron 3, Welsh, Usher, Quigley, Lappin, Hatchard, Davies, D'Arcy
St Kilda: Tawhiao-Wardlaw 5, Baskaran
BEST
Gold Coast: Rowbottom, D'Arcy, Hatchard, Usher, Baron
St Kilda: Tawhiao-Wardlaw, Watson, Patrikios, Trudgeon
INJURIES
Gold Coast: Kievit (TBC)
St Kilda: Fiedler (head)
Crowd: TBC at People First Stadium
