COLLINGWOOD has surged into second place with its sixth straight win, easing past Gold Coast by 39 points at Metricon Stadium on Saturday night.
The Magpies kicked eight straight goals across the first and second quarters to set up a match-winning lead and were never seriously threatened.
They led by 38 points at the main break and extended that to 59 points during the third quarter before winning 14.15 (99) to 8.12 (60).
Magpies coach Nathan Buckley would be frustrated his team didn't go on with the job as Gold Coast won just its second final quarter of the season.
However, they now trail only Richmond after 15 rounds, edging past West Coast, Sydney and Port Adelaide on percentage to sit in second.
While the loss of Adam Treloar to injury might have an impact down the track, it made little difference first-up, with the midfield load shared around.
Skipper Scott Pendlebury (25 disposals and a goal) and ruckman Brodie Grundy (23 touches, 49 hit-outs and nine tackles) could raffle the best on ground.
Taylor Adams (30 and eight clearances) was exceptional in tight, while Steele Sidebottom (24) and Jack Crisp (22) also got plenty of ball.
Josh Thomas also had an exceptional night against the club he first played TAC Cup for in its inaugural 2009 season.
The 26-year-old Queenslander continued his fine season, kicking four goals to go with 22 disposals, including a special effort midway through the second term.
He ran down unsuspecting Suns defender Jarrod Harbrow, crunched him in a tackle and then picked up the loose ball before it could go over the boundary line and calmly slotted the snap with his left boot from deep in the right forward pocket.
While it's the first time Collingwood has won six straight since 2012, the loss was Gold Coast's ninth in succession – the third worst streak in club history.
The Magpies' pressure was just too much.
The Suns tried hard early, and debutant Wil Powell kicked a sublime goal off the left foot with his first kick in the AFL, but they couldn't sustain the intensity for long enough.
Collingwood pounced on turnovers, with cross-goal kicks from Steven May and Jarrod Harbrow in their defensive 50 picked off in the first half for goals.
It was a theme that haunted Stuart Dew's men.
To the Suns' credit though, they continued to fight where they haven't in previous weeks.
They had more inside 50s (57-52) but were sloppy.
Touk Miller (33), Jarryd Lyons (32 and 12 clearances), David Swallow (31) and Jarrod Harbrow (29) all busted their backsides for four quarters.
GOLD COAST 3.2 4.4 7.7 8.12 (60)
COLLINGWOOD 4.3 10.6 13.11 14.15 (99)
GOALS
Gold Coast: Holman 2, Crossley, Dawson, Martin, Powell, Schoenfeld, Young
Collingwood: Thomas 4, Stephenson 3, De Goey 2, Cox, Crocker, Maynard, Mihocek, Pendlebury
BEST
Gold Coast: Martin, Swallow, Lyons, Harbrow, Miller
Collingwood: Grundy, Pendlebury, Stephenson, Thomas, Adams
INJURIES
Gold Coast: TBC
Collingwood: Lynden Dunn (leg)
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Haussen, Nicholls, Hay
Official crowd: 13,637 at Metricon Stadium
