An injury-hit Gold Coast has been defeated by Richmond at the MCG on Sunday by 83 points.
The Tigers overcame a mid-game lapse and a desperately low tackle count to establish a matchwinning break in the first term and ultimately cruise to a crucial percentage-boosting victory, 21.6 (132) to 8.7 (55).
After leading by 17 points at half-time, Richmond rattled on 14 goals to three to power away in the second half.
Compounding matters for the SUNS were two game-ending injuries that reduced them to just two men on the bench for the majority of the second half.
Ruckman Tom Nicholls was substituted out of the game at half-time with a potentially season-ending jarred knee, while promising midfielder Jack Martin was stretchered off after being knocked out in a head clash with Richmond captain Trent Cotchin early in the third quarter.
Gold Coast was down a further rotation when key forward Charlie Dixon sat out the last 10 minutes after battling manfully with a right ankle problem.
Richmond star Brett Deledio, with three goals, was a beacon amid some unattractive play – the Tigers have now won 11 of the 14 games he has played this season, but just one of the five he has missed.
Deledio was one of six multiple goalkickers for the Tigers, including midfielders Dustin Martin and Kane Lambert, who were pivotal playmakers, particularly when the contest was hot.
Richmond was also superbly served by attacking backmen Bachar Houli and Alex Rance, the latter having the better of his duel with Dixon.
With SUNS defender Steven May restricting Jack Riewoldt to just two goals, Tigers big man Ty Vickery helped set up the game with three first-half goals, and four for the match.
At the other end, in-form SUNS forward Tom Lynch spoiled his good work with poor conversion, tallying 3.3 and missing three shots he would normally nail.
Gold Coast midfielder Aaron Hall was proactive and creative with his running and ball use, with solid support from acting skipper Michael Rischitelli, while Kade Kolodjashnij was typically composed across half-back.
RICHMOND 6.1 8.2 14.5 22.6 (138)
GOLD COAST 2.0 5.3 7.3 8.7 (55)
GOALS
Richmond: Vickery 4, Lloyd 3, Deledio 3, Martin 3, Lambert 2, Riewoldt 2, Grigg, Newman, Maric, Thomas, Ellis
Gold Coast: Lynch 3, Hall, Russell, Dixon, Garlett, Boston
BEST
Richmond: Martin, Lambert, Houli, Rance, Ellis, Maric, Vickery
Gold Coast: Hall, Lynch, Kolodjashnij, Richchitelli, May, Lonergan
INJURIES
Richmond: Nil
Gold Coast: Nicholls (knee), Dixon (ankle), Martin (concussion)
SUBSTITUTES
Richmond: Kamdyn McIntosh replaced Anthony Miles in the fourth quarter
Gold Coast: Jarrod Garlett replaced Tom Nicholls at half-time
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Stevic, Brown, Mollison
Official crowd: 38,508 at the MCG
