The SUNS beat Melbourne by 60 points in what was a milestone achievement for many reasons for the club in its third AFL season.
It was Gold Coast SUNS first win at the MCG – indeed, its first in Melbourne – since it joined the competition for the 2011 season.
Coach Guy McKenna, pleased by the endeavour to stick to the plan to out-muscle the Demons – reflected in the tackle count of 71 to 38 – recognised the win as significant.
The former Eagle debuted as a player in 1988, West Coast's second year, and it would take that club until round six, 1990 – its fourth AFL season – to win at the hallowed MCG.
"We spoke a lot about the MCG," McKenna said, after his SUNS belted the struggling Demons.
"I think at West Coast in my time there, it took three coaches and [until] the fourth year with Mick (Malthouse) to get our first win [at the MCG].
"To do that in three years for the group is a milestone if you like, because we understand the challenge of an interstate side to come here and play good footy because this is where it counts.
"Clearly it's not September yet but to come off the MCG confident to know that you can win here, it's a good step for the young group going forward."
Former Western Bulldog Jarrod Harbrow, who is more experienced at the MCG than most of his teammates, also knew it was an important milestone.
"It's a good experience for the younger boys. We came down here pretty confident; we'd like to think we're a stronger team, especially in contested footy," Harbrow told AFL.com.au
"In years to come, if we're going to play in finals, this is the ground to do it at."
The SUNS did it in a way they haven't done before; they assembled a comfortable lead – 37 points at half-time – and then built on that to win by 10 goals.
They lost two players in the second half; Jared Brennan to concussion sustained in a heavy knock that left Colin Sylvia on report in the third quarter, and then Tom Murphy in the fourth after a tough-but-legal challenge from Jack Viney.
Brennan went down only minutes after the SUNS had substituted Steven May out for Brandon Matera and then Murphy mid-way through the last quarter, which meant they had to finish the game with one on the bench.
Both players were stretchered off after lying on the ground initially unresponsive.
Brennan returned to the bench in a tracksuit in the final quarter but Murphy had to be stabilised in a neck brace before being carried from the field.
"They're both up and about. Obviously we'll monitor them; we've got a short week so that certainly is not a good thing, that's for sure," McKenna said.
"From all reports, both were up and walking around.
"I haven't had a chance to see them yet but fingers crossed for next week."
The SUNS face the Bulldogs at Metricon Stadium on Saturday, with McKenna keen for his players to work on areas he still thought they lacked in against the Demons.
"We weren't composed all the time. Melbourne got some goals late in the game from our poor mistakes and they're the things you want to iron out because the quality sides you come up against, they'll make you pay," he said.
"We may have got away with a couple today; even Melbourne made us pay in certain circumstances.
"It was a good performance but as a grumpy old coach, we know we can get it better."
