Tom Lynch kicked eight goals, a career and club-high, to lead Gold Coast to a 34-point win against Carlton at Etihad Stadium on Saturday afternoon. 

For just the second time in the SUNS' history, they'll enter round three undefeated thanks to the 15.11 (101) to 9.13 (67) victory, while the Blues are winless after two rounds for the sixth straight year.

Hard-tackling performances led by Darcy Macpherson and Nick Holman (10 each), 14 clearances from Jarryd Lyons (as well as 36 disposals) and a strong game from David Swallow (25 touches) set the scene for the SUNS' win.

Their much-improved full-ground defence, the dominance of Jarrod Witts (48 hit-outs) after Matthew Kreuzer's late withdrawal, and the Blues' tendency to blaze away to a disorganised forward line were also factors.

Kreuzer's absence with a groin injury wasn't entirely unexpected but it did seem to wreak havoc on the Blues' plans.

It initially forced key position youngster Jacob Weitering into attack, where he struggled against Rory Thompson.

The No.1 draft pick managed one goal from a free kick before he was moved onto Lynch briefly in the third term.

Weitering finished with just five disposals.

It also meant Witts could climb all over Levi Casboult, who played the role of the No.1 big man with Charlie Curnow and Cam O'Shea in support.  

Curnow finished with two goals after a good battle with Steven May but lacked help in attack, with Matthew Wright kicking his two majors when the game was all but over. 

Casboult went forward and Liam Jones, who had spent most of the game being out-positioned by Lynch, took over the ruck for the last quarter in an attempt to shake things up.

But, the damage was done with the SUNS running home despite playing last week's game in monsoonal conditions.

Remarkably, the Blues had more ball inside their forward 50 in the first two quarters (37 inside 50s to 23) despite trailing by 27 points at the main break.

It was a damning trend that carried on with the final tally 67 to 50 despite the SUNS securing just their seventh win in Victoria.

 

CARLTON 1.1 4.4 6.8 9.13 (67)
GOLD COAST 5.5 8.7 12.9 15.11 (101)

 

GOALS
Carlton: C.Curnow 2, Wright 2, Cripps, Fisher, Weitering, Lamb, Murphy
Gold Coast: Lynch 8, Martin 3, MacPherson, Lyons, Ainsworth, Young

BEST
Carlton: Cripps, E.Curnow, C.Curnow, Simpson, Petrevski-Seton, Murphy
Gold Coast: Lynch, Witts, Swallow, Martin, Lyons, Hall, Thompson

 

INJURIES
Carlton: Kreuzer (groin) replaced in selected side by Polson, Byrne (leg)
Gold Coast: Holman (cut under left eye)

 

Reports: Nil
Umpires: Meredith, Harris, Mitchell
Official crowd: 28,025 at Etihad Stadium