TOM LYNCH'S asking price just went up with the out-of-contract Gold Coast forward booting eight goals against Carlton in the Suns' 34-point win at Etihad Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
For just the second time in the Suns' history, they'll enter round three undefeated thanks to the 15.11 (101) to 9.13 (67) victory, while the Blues are winless after two rounds for the sixth straight year.
While other clubs will no doubt inflate their offers if Lynch makes Saturday's performance a regular occurrence, the free agent will have plenty of reasons to stay if the Suns maintain their exciting early-season form.
WATCH: Tom Lynch kicks his eighth
Hard-tackling performances led by Darcy MacPherson and Nick Holman (10 each), 14 clearances from Jarryd Lyons (as well as 36 disposals) and a strong game from David Swallow (25 touches) set the scene for the Suns' win.
Their much-improved full-ground defence, the dominance of Jarrod Witts (48 hit-outs) after Matthew Kreuzer's late withdrawal, and the Blues' tendency to blaze away to a disorganised forward line along with a slew of unforced mistakes across the ground were also factors.
"It's a bit of an arm wrestle statistically, but 94 tackles at Etihad is a good sign of their intent," Suns coach Stuart Dew said afterwards.
"I think we had the same in the wet last week (98), so it's a good one for us coaches to reinforce; whatever the weather is, if we've got the intent, we can tick that off."
Five talking points: Carlton v Gold Coast
Kreuzer's absence with a groin injury wasn't entirely unexpected but it did seem to wreak havoc on the Blues' plans.
It initially forced key position youngster Jacob Weitering into attack, where he struggled against Rory Thompson.
The No.1 draft pick managed one goal from a free kick before he was moved onto Lynch briefly in the third term.
Weitering finished with just five disposals with coach Brendon Bolton not ruling out a spell in the VFL to help him build some confidence.
Kreuzer out also meant Witts could climb all over Levi Casboult, who played the role of the No.1 big man with Charlie Curnow and Cam O'Shea in support.
Curnow finished with two goals after a good battle with Steven May but lacked help in attack, with Matthew Wright kicking his two majors when the game was all but over.
Casboult went forward and Liam Jones, who had spent most of the game being out-positioned by Lynch, took over the ruck for the last quarter in an attempt to shake things up.
WATCH: Tom Lynch sells some candy
But, the damage was done with the Suns breaking even goal-wise in the final stanza despite playing last week's game in heavy, monsoonal conditions.
Remarkably, the Blues had more ball inside their forward 50 in the first two quarters (37 inside 50s to 23) despite trailing by 27 points at the main break.
WATCH: Jack Martin gets the Suns off to a flying start
It was a damning trend that carried on with the final tally 67 to 50 despite the Suns securing just their seventh win in Victoria.
Still, Bolton said it was important to not get carried away with a single poor showing after the young Blues made such a positive statement in their round one loss to Richmond.
"We're very quick to look at one game and catastrophise and it's really important that we don't do that," Bolton said.
"Our players can fix this. It's an easy fix.
"It's just some uncharacteristic dropped marks and skill errors.
"It can be fixed. It is frustrating, and we've got to work hard to rectify it as quick as we possibly can."
GAMEBREAKER: Lynch's big day out destroys Blues
MEDICAL ROOM
Carlton: Ciaran Byrne came off with a quad injury late in the game and will undergo scans this week while Kade Simpson appeared to pick up a sore knee in the third quarter although the veteran did play out the game. Ruckman Matthew Kreuzer was pulled out before the bounce with the groin complaint he picked up in round one. The Blues said he was very close to playing and expect him available for next Friday. Matthew Kennedy is another they're hoping to regain after he missed with the ankle he sprained against the Tigers in round one.
Gold Coast: The Suns also said they got through with no new inuury concerns. Ex-Blue Nick Holman had a cut under his eye stitched and Steven May had treatment on what appeared to be a corked left hip in the first quarter but both finished the game without issue.
NEXT UP
The Blues are off to the big stage to host Collingwood at the MCG on Friday night in what looms as a hugely important clash for both clubs. The Suns are off on their road trip west for rounds three and four. With Metricon Stadium unavailable because of the Commonwealth Games, the club will relocate to Perth this week ahead of Saturday's "home" clash with Fremantle at Optus Stadium before meeting West Coast a week later at the same ground.
CARLTON 1.1 4.4 6.8 9.13 (67)
GOLD COAST 5.5 8.7 12.9 15.11 (101)
GOALS
Carlton: Wright 2, C.Curnow 2, Cripps, Fisher, Weitering, Lamb, Murphy
Gold Coast: Lynch 8, Martin 3, MacPherson, Lyons, Ainsworth, Young
BEST
Carlton: Cripps, E.Curnow, C.Curnow, Simpson, Petrevski-Seton, Murphy
Gold Coast: Lynch, Witts, Swallow, Martin, Lyons, Hall, Thompson
INJURIES
Carlton: Kreuzer (groin) replaced in selected side by Polson, Byrne (quad)
Gold Coast: Holman (cut under left eye)
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Meredith, Harris, Mitchell
Official crowd: 28,025 at Etihad Stadium
