Gold Coast remain undefeated but were less than convincing in defeating Carlton by 54 points at Metricon Stadium on Saturday night.
 
The Suns struggled to break free most of the night, but kicked the game's last six goals to run out 13.17 (95) to 5.11 (41) victors.
 
It was their third-straight win to start the season.
 
One week after playing razzle-dazzle football to account for Fremantle at Domain Stadium, the Suns were forced to win ugly in front of 13,885 home fans.
 
Gold Coast coach Rodney Eade was frustrated with the lacklustre first half, but overall was glad to get another four premiership points.
 
"I think you've got to win different ways," Eade said.
 
"You're not going to win the same way every week, teams aren't going to allow you to do that.
 
"It was slippery as well, it was humid … so to win a different way was pleasing."
 
Aaron Hall continued his blazing start to the season, racking up 40 disposals, but it was the forward line combination of Tom Lynch and Jack Martin that stole the show.
 
In the same week he signed a two-year contract extension, vice-captain Lynch was again the most dangerous forward on the field, kicking four goals and giving off another two from his 22 disposals and 10 marks.

He is the early season Coleman Medal leader with 13.
 
Livewire teammate Martin also continues to impress with his ability in the air and on the ground.
 
The West Australian, in just his 26th game, kicked three goals – including a brilliant right foot snap in the third quarter – and had two goal assists among his 19 disposals and 10 marks.
 
Gary Ablett ran without a tag and finished with 35 disposals and nine clearances.
 
For Carlton, number one draft pick Jacob Weitering was mightily impressive with 26 composed disposals.
 
Ed Curnow (30) got plenty of the ball, while Patrick Cripps (23) worked hard through a Jesse Lonergan tag.
 
Carlton remain winless, but battled hard and made the Suns work for everything, shown with the contested possession count finishing at 125 apiece.
 
"Obviously in the last quarter we fell away badly," coach Brendon Bolton said.
 
"We just need to use the ball better. We’re not shying away from that, we know that, we’re not going to stop training it.
 
"It’s hurting us on turnovers, no doubt about that. I think they would have kicked nearly all their score, a dozen goals or 11 goals from turnovers.
 
"So we’ve got to improve that, we’ve got to use the ball better going forward."
 
Gold Coast's win came at some cost though, with defender Trent McKenzie suffering a broken nose in the first quarter and not returning.
 
Rory Thompson (ankle) left the ground in the third quarter and also failed to return.
 
The Suns also overcame a bizarre second-quarter incident that resulted in a two-goal swing.
 
Streaming through the middle of the ground with a goal beckoning, Carlton was awarded a free kick when a Suns runner interfered with play.
 
Zach Tuohy kicked the goal for Carlton.
 
MEDICAL ROOM
Gold Coast: There were a few casualties for the Suns, most notably Trent McKenzie who has a compound fracture of his nose and will see a surgeon in coming days. He'll likely miss a few weeks. Rory Thompson has an ankle sprain that will have to be assessed, but coach Rodney Eade is hopeful it's not too serious.
 
Carlton: One bright spot for the Blues was they came away unscathed.
 
NEXT UP
Gold Coast will try to make it four straight wins when they travel an hour up the Pacific Highway next Saturday to take on the Brisbane Lions in the QClash. It doesn't get any easier for the winless Blues who return to Melbourne to play the Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium next Saturday night.

GOLD COAST  3. 2      5. 7      9. 10    13. 17 (95)
CARLTON        1. 3      3. 5      5. 8      5. 11 (41)

GOALS

Gold Coast: Lynch 4, Martin 3, Cameron, Day, Hall, Malceski, Matera, Sexton
Carlton: Casboult, Cripps, C. Curnow, Tuohy, Wright 

BEST 

Gold Coast: Hall, Ablett, Lynch, Martin, Malceski, Kolodjashnij
Carlton: Weitering, Gibbs, Docherty, Curnow, Cripps

INJURIES 

Gold Coast: McKenzie (fractured nose), Prestia (shoulder), Thompson (ankle)
Carlton: TBC

Reports: Nil 

Umpires: Fleer, Mitchell, Stevic

Official crowd: 13,885 at Metricon Stadium