CARLTON has broken through for its second win of the season, disposing of Gold Coast by 35 points at Metricon Stadium on Saturday night to cap off a great week for the club.

After recommitting for a further two years earlier in the week, Patrick Cripps celebrated with a best on ground display in the 12.7 (79) to 5.14 (44) triumph.

Following a first half marred by shocking skills from both teams, Carlton cut loose with a seven-goal third quarter to blow the game open and snap a nine-game losing streak.

NOW SUNS FEEL BLUE Full match details and stats 

"Our whole club can smile tonight," Carlton coach Brendon Bolton beamed post-match.

"I think ultimately what I saw, and I think most saw, were glimpses of our future on display today and some strong leadership."

While trusted hands Cripps (37 disposals, 11 tackles and a goal) and skipper Marc Murphy (36 and a goal) were highly influential, it was the Blues' "green shoots", as so famously coined by Bolton, that lit-up Carrara.

Sam Petrevski-Seton played arguably his best game for the club, with his poise and quality ball use standing out in the greasy conditions.

The number six pick from the 2016 NAB AFL Draft finished with 26 quality touches, including a lovely pass to the leading Charlie Curnow to give the Blues the lead early in the third quarter.

It was a lead they would not relinquish.

Tall forward Harry McKay kicked the next goal from 45m after a nice mark in front of Steven May, Paddy Dow exploded away from Nick Holman to take a bounce and finish from 40m on the run with an exhilarating goal and Jack Silvagni finished the party tricks with a soccered goal off the left boot from the top of the goalsquare.

WATCH: Cripps brilliant in Blues' big win

After conceding the first three goals of the game, the Blues thoroughly dominated their opponents for the final three-and-a-half terms, outworking Gold Coast around the contest and in space.

Reliable pair Kade Simpson (29) and Ed Curnow (28) were also strong contributors.

"The contested-possession differential was well in their favour in the first quarter and that changed," Bolton said.

"That overall was probably the stat I enjoyed the most and our group should enjoy and learn from. It may not be going your way all the time, but you can correct it."

The Blues are now two games adrift of the 17th placed Suns with four rounds remaining and still the faintest of faint hopes of avoiding the wooden spoon.

Gold Coast kicked just two goals after the 12-minute mark of the opening term.

METRICON MAY-HEM: Five talking points

It was a dirty night for the Suns just seven days after the greatest win in club history when it remarkably upset Sydney at the SCG.

"It probably sums up the maturity of the group, or lack of, being able to deal with that, such a high, and we didn't," Suns coach Stuart Dew said.

"Full credit to Carlton, they came in and hunted us down, won the game of footy.

"We're trying to bridge the gap from such a really good win last week."

Not only did they lose, but captain May is on report for a high bump on Ed Curnow, while David Swallow missed the final three quarters with concussion.

May was the Suns' best player, while young midfielders Will Brodie and Jesse Lonergan also tried hard.

MEDICAL ROOM
Gold Coast: Midfield bull David Swallow was taken off late in the first quarter with concussion after a heavy Patrick Cripps tackle. Swallow staggered to his feet with the help of trainers but failed the concussion test and did not return. 

Carlton: Young defender Jacob Weitering was taken from the field late in the final term with a leg injury after colliding with Steven May in a marking contest. Blues coach Brendon Bolton confirmed post-match that Weitering had a corked quad.

NEXT UP
Carlton has a stiff task if it hopes to win successive games next week, taking on the red-hot Greater Western Sydney at Etihad Stadium on Sunday afternoon. Gold Coast also has an eight-day break, playing Melbourne at the MCG on the same day.

GOLD COAST   3.3   3.6   4.8   5.14 (44)                  
CARLTON        1.2   3.4   10.6   12.7 (79)           

GOALS
Gold Coast: Wright 2, Bowes, May, Powell
Carlton: Dow 2, Lang 2, Cripps, Curnow, Lamb, McKay, Murphy, O'Brien, Silvagni, Wright 

BEST 
Gold Coast: May, Harbrow, Brodie, Longergan
Carlton:  Cripps, Murphy, Petrevski-Seton, Simpson, Weitering 

INJURIES 
Gold Coast: Swallow (concussion)
Carlton: Weitering (leg) 

Reports: May (high contact)

Umpires: O'Gorman, Gavine, Williamson

Official crowd: 10,776 at Metricon Stadium