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Gold Coast have snapped an 11-game interstate losing streak in the AFL with a 32-point victory over struggling Sydney at the SCG.
Gold Coast embraced wise words from Australian cricket coach Justin Langer about performing away from home, as they ended an 11-game run of interstate losses with a 32-point win over Sydney at the SCG on Saturday.
The Suns scored the first 13 points on Saturday evening and never trailed, winning 13.14 (92) to 9.6 (60).
The victory moves the emerging Queensland club up five places provisionally to fifth and came after losses to Geelong and Melbourne on the road over the past two weeks
They will head back home for their first prime time TV game on Thursday at Metricon Stadium against the Bulldogs, the previous team they beat outside Queensland back in April 2019.
"We were lucky enough to have Justin Langer talk to some of the boys during the week about time away and we can't even compare with what he goes through," Suns' coach Stuart Dew said.
"One of the things that resonated was the fact that when you are away you want to make it worthwhile and get a win. So if you're going to spend some time away, lets make it count.
"We probably grabbed on to that with this one, given if we'd lost this it was three losses on this trot on this trip, so we can take a lot out of this little period in the season."
First-season Suns' forward Izak Rankine followed up a three-goal haul on debut, by adding two more eye-catching efforts at the SCG.
The first came when he kicked through a pack of players for the opening major of the game; he also added a 45-metre snap in the third quarter.
Lachie Weller and Sam Day also kicked two goals for the visitors who won the clearances and hit-outs comfortably while they also capitalised on turnovers.
It is a fourth-straight loss for the Swans who remain second last on the ladder.
"There were a few players that came through, but we're still searching for that even contribution across the board and we were scored heavily against on turnovers," Swans' coach John Longmire said.
Sydney cut a 28-point second quarter deficit to 10 at halftime, but the Suns pulled away after the main break.
Nick Holman capped his 50th appearance by kicking the last goal to becoming the 10th Suns player to register a major in the contest.
The Suns were sparked by Hugh Greenwood, who logged 23 touches, 18 contested possessions, 12 tackles and nine clearances.
Swans forward Tom Papley, who entered the round leading the Coleman Medal, kicked two more goals to swell his tally to 15, while Will Hayward and the recalled Aliir Aliir, who spent time as a key forward, also booted two apiece.
Sydney debutant Elijah Taylor, the first Swan to wear the No.37 guernsey since the retirement of club legend Adam Goodes, showed some nice touches but in a sour note for the hosts Colin O'Riordan suffered a hip injury.
