Gold Coast's season is officially in free-fall after slumping to a 92-point loss to West Coast in Saturday night's AFL clash at Domain Stadium.
The Eagles kicked a club-record 12.0 in the third quarter to secure the 21.9 (135) to 6.7 (43) romp, with the result keeping them in second spot on the table.
In contrast, only percentage separates Gold Coast (1-6) from last place in a season where they were widely tipped to challenge for a finals berth.
And with games against Collingwood, Hawthorn, Sydney, and Fremantle to come over the next month, it could get even uglier for the injury-hit Suns.
Gold Coast only had 18 points to their name up until three-quarter time.
By that stage, West Coast led by 102 points.
Only some soft goals in the final term allowed Gold Coast to surpass their lowest ever total - the 4.10 (34) they registered against the Bulldogs in 2012.
Injuries have played a big part in Gold Coast's demise this season, with key players Gary Ablett, Nick Malceski, Jack Martin, David Swallow, and Jaeger O'Meara all injured.
Star midfielder Harley Bennell could become the latest player added to that casualty ward after injuring his knee in the second half.
The mood is vastly different at the Eagles, who are emerging as a top-four smoky following a host of big wins.
Last week's triumph over Port Adelaide proved they can match it with the best. And their demolition of Gold Coast showed they have a ruthless killer streak.
Brownlow medallist Matt Priddis was superb with 39 disposals and two goals.
And the recent move of Elliot Yeo into the midfield continued to pay big dividends, with the former Lion kicking four goals from his 29 disposals.
Josh Kennedy booted four goals before being subbed off in the third term to freshen him up for next week.
Both teams suffered major blows before the bounce.
Star West Coast defender Jeremy McGovern (corked calf) was ruled out, while the Suns lost Tom Lynch (calf) and Luke Russell (illness).
Heavy rain ensured for slippery conditions early on, but it at least allowed the Suns to limit the damage in the first term.
West Coast won the inside-50m count 23-4 for the quarter, but their lead was only 14 points by the first break.
However, the floodgates opened once the rain subsided, with Yeo taking the game by the scruff of the neck.
Yeo booted three goals in the second term to extend the margin to 40 points by halftime.
Gold Coast coach Rodney Eade conceded his men were blown away by a far more battle-hardened outfit.
"I felt sorry for some our defenders," Eade said.
"Jack Leslie had played two games, Henry Schade had played three.
"The third quarter was like an air raid shelter.
"To the kids' credit they kept contesting and I think it was a positive they really stuck to their task."
Eagles coach Adam Simpson was pleased with his team's ability to win the inside-50m count 66-24.
"We haven't performed too well in the wet in the past and we made a bit of a focus of it, without going too hard at it," Simpson said.
"To keep them quite low on inside 50s and have impact on the scoreboard ourselves (was pleasing).
"The game died away a bit in that last quarter, but I thought the damage was done and I was pretty happy with how we played."
