North Melbourne has broken a 20-game losing streak with a career-high nine goals from Nick Larkey inspiring the Kangaroos to a 35-point upset over the Gold Coast.
The SUNS finish the year with nine wins and in 15th position on the ladder.
Matt Rowell was busy, finishing with an equal game-high 33 possessions and showcasing the relentless attack on the footy for which he is known for. The midfield bull also broke the AFL record for most tackles in a single season in which he finished with nine for the day and 190 for the season – four clear of the previous record of 186 set by Devon Smith.
Gold Coast had a 26-15 lead at quarter-time after kicking the first three goals of the match, two of those off the boot of Sam Flanders.
They slotted the first three of the second term before the Kangaroos hit back with a run of four, which included three to Larkey who also set up Curtis Taylor.
Tempers flared after Rowell crunched North Melbourne's Jy Simpkin in a legal tackle (which coincidentally equalled the record), with the SUNS taking a six-point lead into the main break.
North Melbourne hit the lead for the first time early in the third quarter courtesy of an Eddie Ford goal and surged to an 85-63 lead heading into the last term.
The SUNS threatened to push North Melbourne in the final term, but poor ball movement and costly turnovers will leave Gold Coast rueing what could have been.
NORTH MELBOURNE 2.3 7.6 13.7 20.12 (132)
GOLD COAST 4.2 8.6 10.9 14.13 (97)
GOALS
North Melbourne: Larkey 8, Ford 3, Curtis 2, Corr, Greenwood, Howe, Simpkin, Taylor, Tucker
Gold Coast: Rosas 3, Casboult 2, Flanders 2, Chol 2, Atkins, Davies, Fiorini, Miller, Swallow
BEST
North Melbourne: Larkey, Simpkin, Sheezel, Thomas, Scott, McKay
Gold Coast: Flanders, Ellis, Rowell, Rosas, Miller
INJURIES
North Melbourne: Taylor (TBC)
Gold Coast: Nil
SUBSTITUTES
North Melbourne: Daniel Howe (replaced Curtis Taylor in the third quarter)
Gold Coast: Rory Atkins (replaced Sean Lemmens in the third quarter)
