For a team vying for a place in its first finals series, Gold Coast was inexplicably flat. In fact, the Suns performed like a side with little to play for. Maybe the season has gone just too long for the youngsters to sustain high performance. Maybe they have an unhealthy reliance on sidelined skipper Gary Ablett. But one thing is certain: they will need to find a massive spark if they are to qualify for September. Meanwhile, the Blues enhanced their stocks as one of the best sides outside the top eight, comprehensively beating and bullying the Suns in all areas.

 

Both teams activated their substitutes in the first half, with Carlton speedster Chris Yarran subbed out with a calf injury just 10 minutes into the game and Suns midfielder Michael Rischitelli taking the red vest after suffering a left hip problem. It appeared the Yarran departure would advantage the quick, younger Suns, but the Blues didn't seem to miss him, with runners like Chris Judd, Dale Thomas, Kade Simpson and Marc Murphy dominating. However, the Suns desperately missed Rischitelli's leadership. The 28-year-old was given the job on Blues skipper Murphy but limped off in the opening minutes. He persisted but eventually had to call it a day before half-time. To cap off a dirty day for the Suns, Trent McKenzie was concussed in the third term.

 

Irish debutant Ciaran "Gus" Sheehan was a surprise packet. After averaging 12.4 disposals in 14 VFL games in his first season with the Blues, the strongly-built 23-year-old, donning bright blue boots with flouro yellow trims, was into the fray from the outset, setting up play from half-back and occasionally driving the ball deep into attack with his strong left foot. He delivered his first six kicks, most of them long ones, at 100 per cent efficiency. At one point he smothered a handball on the wing, took an awkward bounce and pumped it into the goalsquare where Bryce Gibbs goaled after a strong mark. Carlton's social media team detailed Sheehan's debut on Twitter to keep his fans in Ireland updated on his progress.

 

It's well documented that Blues veteran Jarrad Waite is out of contract at season's end, and he continues to play with the desperation of a man keen to prove his worth. For the third successive week following a VFL stint, the enigmatic forward gave migraines to opposition defences, and this time it was Suns pair Steven May and 50-gamer Rory Thompson. The 31-year-old slotted five goals, to give him 12 in his past three outings. He could easily have bagged eight but missed or failed to score with several shots. Before half-time he'd taken six marks inside 50 – double the Suns' team tally.

 

Although he reminds some Blues diehards of the great Anthony Koutoufides, raw midfielder Tom Bell isn't noted for his finesse. But after managing just 13 goals in his previous 25 AFL games and a kicking efficiency of just 56 percent, Bell chimed in with a personal best of four majors (doubling his previous best), including a superb set-shot conversion from the boundary on the wrong side for a right-footer. It came during a 10-minute purple patch either side of half-time when he rattled on three goals in succession.