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Gold Coast ruckman Jarrod Witts defied a week-long illness to match it with Melbourne star Max Gawn in Saturday's AFL match at Metricon Stadium.

Gold Coast ruckman Jarrod Witts' impressive display against Melbourne's Max Gawn got even more noteworthy after Saturday's AFL match.

Witts enjoyed a game-long battle with Gawn at Metricon Stadium, as the Demons stole a one-point win with a behind in the dying seconds.

The Suns co-captain recorded 44 hitouts to Gawn's 46 in the clash to continue his push to be considered among the elite ruckmen in the competition.

Following the game, Suns coach Stuart Dew revealed the 209cm Witts had spent the week laid up at home battling illness.

"Huge effort by Wittsy on the back of the last week. He was really crook, couldn't come down the club," Dew said.

"He was in on Monday but was then quarantined until yesterday. Didn't train at all.

"He'll probably tell me he shouldn't train if that's how he plays."

While it was a big day for Witts, it was a day to forget for forward Sean Lemmens.

Making his return from the left ankle injury which had sidelined him since pre-season, Lemmens was helped off early in the third quarter after hurting the same ankle.

Dew said it was a tough blow for the popular 24-year-old, who missed the first half of last season due to hamstring and hand injuries.

"It's really unlucky for Sean because he worked so hard to get back and he's such an impact on our side, bit of a barometer, we'll just get around him again," Dew said.

"He'll need a little bit of support though because it's so frustrating for him.

"He's shown what he can do at AFL level, he's really powerful, he just needs a fair run at it."