The Gold Coast SUNS gave Richmond a fight at Metricon Stadium but a third-quarter surge wasn’t enough to run down the Tigers who emerge victors by 15 points.

After keeping the SUNS scoreless in the second term, the Tigers opened up a 15-point lead at half-time and appeared headed for victory.

But the hosts tore up the script in the third term, with their manic pressure and superior energy levels stunning the visitors whose lead was at one stage trimmed to just three points.

However, that is as close as Gold Coast would get as Richmond survived the onslaught and steadied with the next three goals before running out 6.5 (41) to 4.2 (26) winners.

Kate Surman was Gold Coast's best player with 16 disposals and a goal, and she enjoyed good support from Maddison Levi (two goals), who laid a game-high nine tackles, Lauren Ahrens (21 touches), Alison Drennan (20) and Kalinda Howarth (18).

The Suns did all the early attacking but despite recording seven of the first eight inside 50s, only had one Levi goal to show for their bright start.

After settling into the contest, the Tigers wrested back the momentum and made the hosts pay for their inefficiency, dominating the territory battle and kicking the next three goals to assert themselves.

The ball hardly left Richmond's forward half in the second quarter, placing the valiant SUNS defence under enormous pressure.

The SUNS hit back hard after half-time, but their efforts were ultimately in vain.

Gold Coast still has two home matches to close out the 2021 season, starting with a matchup against Carlton on Friday night at 4:40pm.

GOLD COAST     1.0     1.0     3.1     4.2     (26)
RICHMOND       1.0     3.3     4.5     6.5     (41)

GOALS
Gold Coast: Levi 2, Surman, Virgo
Richmond: Brennan 3, Wakefield, Bernardi, McKenzie

BEST
Gold Coast: Surman, Levi, Ahrens, Drennan, Howarth
Richmond: Brennan, Conti, McKenzie, Dempsey, Hosking

INJURIES
Gold Coast: Nil
Richmond: Nil

Reports: Nil