Despite a host of missed opportunities up forward, the Blues held their nerve and then kicked away late for a 16.24 (120) to 11.11 (77) victory in front of 19,640 fans at Metricon Stadium.
Carlton won the clearances 41 to 29 and Ed Curnow played well to restrict the damage of Gary Ablett in his much-hyped 248th senior game.
Ablett was still among the Coast's best, finishing with an equal game-high 32 disposals but was nowhere near as influential as last week in his side's seven-point upset of Collingwood.
Heath Scotland also ended with 32 touches while Kade Simpson, Brock McLean and Marc Murphy also starred for the visitors.
The Blues jumped to a 26-point lead midway through the opening term but couldn't shake the Suns until early in the final quarter when Lachie Henderson kicked two quick goals to finish with four for the match.
Carlton made it hard for themselves with inaccuracy in front of goal, particularly in the third term when they could have buried the Suns but kicked 2.9 for the quarter.
Looking for their second big scalp in a week, the Suns were hurt by a knee injury to ruckman Tom Nicholls which saw him subbed out just after half time when only two goals separated the sides.
In a lop-sided ruck contest, Matthew Kreuzer was a standout for the Blues with 41 hit-outs and five clearances, effectively extinguishing the Suns' finals pipe dream.
Gold Coast were forced to start without in-form midfielder Dion Prestia (knee) and key defender Rory Thompson (ankle).
Carlton kicked the first four goals of the match before Charlie Dixon stood up for the hosts who bounced back with three straight majors.
In only his second match since round six, Dixon continued to be a thorn in the Blues' side up forward but he was forced to share ruck duties with Sam Day in the second half after Nicholls (knee) limped off.
CARLTON 4.6 8.12 10.19 16.24 (120)?
GOLD COAST 3.4 7.7 9.8 11.11 (77)? ?
GOALS?
Carlton: Henderson 4, Betts 3, Yarran 2, Armfield 2, McLean 2, Garlett, Watson, Judd?
Gold Coast: Day 2, Hall 2, Dixon 2, Bennell, Brown, Stanley, Shaw, Ablett? ?
BEST?
Carlton: Kreuzer, McLean, Judd, Robinson, Curnow, Henderson, Scotland?
Gold Coast: Dixon, Ablett, Shaw, O'Meara, Brown? ?
INJURIES?
Carlton: Bootsma (ill) replaced in selected side by Cachia
Gold Coast: Prestia (hamstring) replaced in selected side by Gillbee; Thompson (ankle) replaced in selected side by Sumner; Nicholls (knee)? ?
SUBSTITUTES
Carlton: Jaryd Cachia replaced Kane Lucas in the third quarter?
Gold Coast: Jacob Gillbee replaced Tom Nicholls (knee) in the third quarter?
Reports: Nil?
Umpires: McBurney, Farmer, Pannell? ?
Official crowd: 19,460 at Metricon Stadium
