Gold Coast have overcome a goalless first half to keep themselves in the AFLW finals hunt with a hard-fought 27-point win over Carlton.
The Suns struggled in an early arm wrestle but took control after the main break to post a 6.6 (42) to 2.3 (15) victory at Metricon Stadium on Friday night.
Charlie Rowbottom (26 disposals), Alison Drennan (24), Kalinda Howarth (18, one goal) and Courtney Jones (two goals) were all influential for the home side.
The result put Gold Coast level on points with North Melbourne (seventh) and the Western Bulldogs (eighth), who both have a game in hand.
To play finals, the Suns will have to beat GWS in round 10 and hope other results fall their way.
They will be confident of holding up their end of the bargain after recovering from a slow start to overpower Carlton.
It was a slog in slippery conditions up to halftime and a solitary goal from Blues forward Poppy Schaap was all that separated the sides at the main break.
But the second half belonged to the home side.
Howarth kicked the first goal of the third quarter within 25 seconds of the restart, scooping up a ground ball and snapping on the turn to level the scores.
Jones put the Suns in front against her old side and Kaylee Kimber added a third major for the quarter to give them breathing space.
Jones had eight disposals and four inside-50s in the third term as a key driver in Gold Coast's surge.
Tara Bohanna and Tahlia Meyer kicked goals early in the last quarter to make it five in a row for the Suns as they cruised to victory.
Lucy McEvoy (24 disposals), Mimi Hill (23) and captain Kerryn Peterson (18) all fought hard in a losing cause for the Blues, who are out of finals contention.
Gold Coast travel to take on GWS in the last round of the home-and-away campaign, while Carlton could do them a favour by knocking off the Bulldogs at Ikon Park.
