The return of Gary Ablett has helped spark Gold Coast to its second win of the season, a 55-point triumph over North Melbourne.
Almost a year to the day of his season-ending shoulder injury last year, the superstar SUNS skipper provided a timely reminder of what his side had been missing in the 19.11 (125) to 10.10 (70) victory on Saturday at Metricon Stadium.
Ablett finished with a team-high 31 disposals, but it was his sheer presence that inspired his teammates to rise to another level after a horrific week for both club and code.
Previously rudderless without their leader and barely competitive in weeks gone by, it felt like a return to the SUNS of old.
The dual Brownlow medallist also kicked three majors and his influence on the contest grew as the likes of best-on-ground Kade Kolodjashnij (28) and Michael Rischitelli (28) rallied around him.
Charlie Dixon also had a day out with a career-best seven goals, Aaron Hall chipped in with three and defender Steven May silenced North Melbourne forward Jarrod Waite.
The SUNS were rarely troubled against a surprisingly lacklustre Kangaroos outfit and, at one stage, led by as much as 29 points in a dominant first half.
Three North Melbourne goals helped trim the margin back to 11 points at half-time and they appeared to have all the momentum at that stage - only for Gold Coast to fire straight back with three of its own at the start of the third term.
The Kangaroos were never a chance from then on, and the margin blew out as the SUNS basked in the glory of an eight-goal final quarter.
The only highlight from a North Melbourne perspective was Lindsay Thomas' mark-of-the-year contender early on, when he rode Adam Saad like a chairlift - and then crashed head-on into the ground, shaken and unable to take his kick.
The loss puts a massive dent into the Kangaroos' finals hopes while Gold Coast has moved off the bottom of the ladder on percentage and past local rivals the Brisbane Lions, who face Fremantle on Sunday.
GOLD COAST SUNS 2.3 5.5 11.9 19.11 (125)
NORTH MELBOURNE 0.4 3.6 6.9 10.10 (70)
GOALS
Gold Coast SUNS: Dixon 7, Ablett 3, Hall 3, Brooksby 2, Kolodjashnij, Russell, Hallahan, Sexton
North Melbourne: Petrie 3, Higgins 2, Cunnington 2, Waite, Nahas, Ziebell
BEST
Gold Coast SUNS: Kolodashnij, Dixon, May, Ablett, Swallow, Rischitelli
North Melbourne: Thompson, Gibson, Macmillan, Goldstein, Cunnington
INJURIES
Gold Coast SUNS: Nil
North Melbourne: Nil
SUBSTITUTES
Gold Coast SUNS: Jesse Lonergan replaced Keegan Brooksby at three-quarter time
North Melbourne: Trent Dumont replaced Majak Daw in the third quarter
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Foot, Nicholls, Ryan
Official crowd: 14,444 at Metricon Stadium
