AN EMPHATIC seven-goal third quarter has paved the way for Gold Coast's 31-point over the Western Bulldogs at Metricon Stadium on Saturday night.

The 13.15 (93) to 8.13 (61) victory is the first time the SUNS have won successive matches in their three-year history.

It comes just six days after their maiden win in Melbourne - a 60-point trouncing of the Demons - and takes them to a 4-4 win-loss record.

It was a much tougher assignment this week as the teams arm-wrestled for almost three quarters before the home side burst clear.

Trailing midway through the third term, Gold Coast slammed on six successive goals to round out the quarter and put the result beyond doubt.

Campbell Brown was among the catalysts for the match-winning burst, kicking the first two goals and finished with three for the game.

Jaeger O'Meara's freakish left-footed goal while being dragged to the ground lifted his teammates and the 13,520 spectators.

He backed it up moments later, winning the ball in a huge collision with Brett Goodes on the wing that ended up in an Aaron Hall goal.

As they've done most of the season, the Bulldogs did not throw in the towel, kicking two goals in the first three minutes of the final quarter to throw a scare into the SUNS' camp, but their charge fizzled out.

The loss is the Bulldogs' seventh straight, and their 18th loss in the past 19 games.

They lacked penetration going forward despite dominating the disposal count 397-335.

Adam Cooney (31 disposals), Ryan Griffen (29) and Matthew Boyd (29) were prolific in the midfield, while first-year players Jake Stringer (three goals) and Jackson Macrae (26) were poised and impressive.

But the plaudits must go to the SUNS, who took another step in their progression with a mature win despite battling for much of the first half.

They played the entire second half without ruckman Zac Smith who injured a knee early and was substituted.

It forced a reshuffle that saw Tom Lynch move into the ruck with Jared Brennan as a back-up, and Sam Day shifted from defence back to his customary forward role.

Gary Ablett again led from the front with 31 touches while O'Meara (25) was again superb in his first season.

GOLD COAST SUNS                  1.3  4.7  11.11  13.15 (93)
WESTERN BULLDOGS            3.4  5.6   6.10   8.13 (61)

GOALS
Gold Coast SUNS: Brown 3, Matera, Shaw, Hall, Stanley, O’Meara, Hall, Harbrow, Day, May, Bennell
Western Bulldogs: Stringer 3, Markovic 2, Giansiracusa, Jones, Murphy

BEST
Gold Coast SUNS: Ablett, Brown, O’Meara, Thompson, Lonergan
Western Bulldogs: Cooney, Murphy, Griffen, Boyd, Macrae

INJURIES
Gold Coast SUNS: None
Western Bulldogs: None

SUBSTITUTES
Gold Coast SUNS: Luke Russell on for Zac Smith at half time
Western Bulldogs: Clay Smith on for Liam Jones in the third quarter

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Hay, Armstrong and Jeffery

Crowd: 13,520