1. Lynch's big night out
Gold Coast co-captain Tom Lynch lived up to his billing as one of the competition's best power forwards with a career-best haul of 7.0, which also matched Charlie Dixon's club record set against North Melbourne at Carrara in round 14, 2015. Lynch was at his strong-marking, straight-kicking best, equalling his previous best by just the 13-minute mark of the second term when he'd kicked five of the Suns' six goals – from just six kicks – to torch a hapless Sam Rowe. The big Victorian had a golden opportunity to snag another early in the third term but inexplicably dropped a regulation hand mark on the lead. His efforts piloted the Suns to consecutive wins for the first time since round 16 last year, and their first victory at Etihad Stadium for almost three years.
WATCH: Suns' Lynch-pin in seventh heaven
Tom Lynch dominated with seven goals for the Suns. Picture: AFL Photos
2. Blues unveil another exciting youngster
Fifty years to the day since Carlton legend Alex Jesaulenko made his debut (kicking 2.1 from 14 touches in a 94-point win over Fitzroy), the Blues unveiled another impressive custodian of the famous No.25 guernsey. Physically, there isn't much of Zac Fisher – just 175cms and 68kgs of him – but he excited Blues fans with his spirit, desperation and a lovely left foot. The 18-year-old West Australian – the No.27 pick in last year's NAB AFL Draft – suffered a torrid opening minute when he was hammered in a tackle after his first touch, but bounced back in fine style to execute a perfect chasedown tackle on Suns speedster Aaron Hall, nail a goal on the run from 40m near the boundary after a one-hand pick up and soon after set up a goal with a tackle and follow-up handball to Jarrod Pickett.
How about this for a first goal from the debutant Zac Fisher? #AFLBluesSuns pic.twitter.com/DLWlEzv11f
— AFL (@AFL) April 15, 2017
3.Ablett's sensational century
Gary Ablett celebrated his 100th game for Gold Coast in emphatic fashion. The 'Little Master' took time to warm into the contest and even made a couple of uncharacteristic mistakes in the second term – kicking the ball into a Blue inside the back 50, and taking an errant bounce through the centre – but was the catalyst for the Suns' dominance in the third quarter, collecting seven possessions (five contested) after engineering six clearances, including four centre clearances. Ablett's intensity rubbed off on the Suns, who piled on 7.2 to just 1.1 for the term. He finished with a game-high 34 touches, 11 clearances and a goal.
Gary Ablett from outside 50! #AFLBluesSuns pic.twitter.com/yTzRVwJI1W
— AFL (@AFL) April 15, 2017
4. A young Blue's howler
Harrison Macreadie is developing nicely in his debut season for the Blues but the promising tall defender committed a cardinal sin he won't want to repeat. Midway through the third term, with Carlton trailing by a goal, the 19-year-old took a saving chest mark on the last line of defence. However the relief was only temporary, as Macreadie went to pass to a teammate in the corridor, only to kick it straight into the man on the mark, ex-Crow Jarryd Lyons, who gratefully accepted a gift goal. And the Suns let Macreadie know all about his unfortunate mistake, which resulted in the Suns' third of six successive goals in a match-defining sequence.
Yikes. Look away Blues fans. #AFLBluesSuns pic.twitter.com/kYvuwblfyj
— AFL (@AFL) April 15, 2017
5. Get your wallets ready, boys
It wouldn't surprise if the AFL Match Review Panel penalised players from both teams with fines tallying five figures for their involvement in an old-fashioned, all-in melee after the half-time siren. Tempers flared at the end of the second quarter after Suns forward Peter Wright missed a regulation set shot to the Lockett end of the stadium. The Suns and Blues came together for a show of bravado – an elongated push-and-shove session that flew the flag but simply amounted to a waste of energy and, presumably, money. The fans loved it, with the Carlton faithful cheering their team from the field with a five-point lead.
Tempers flared at Etihad Stadium. Picture: AFL Photos