Gold Coast has capped a tumultuous week the best way possible, breaking a seven-year drought against St Kilda with a 26-point win at Heritage Bank Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Just five days after sacking coach Stuart Dew with more than a year to run on his contract, the Suns played with ferocity and defensive desperation to win 11.11 (77) to 8.3 (51).

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It was the first time they'd beaten the Saints since 2016, breaking an eight-game losing streak, and moved them within a game of the top eight.

With interim coach Steven King at the helm, Gold Coast kicked the first three goals of the game and were never troubled, playing with a combination of freedom and intensity that was too much for the Saints.

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Jack Lukosius kicked four goals, but it was young midfielder Sam Flanders that caught the eye, racking up 33 disposals in a career-best outing.

Flanders was everywhere, adding seven marks and five tackles to his tally, proving a perfect link between the inside grunt of Noah Anderson, Touk Miller and Matt Rowell and a forward line led by Lukosius.

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Nick Holman set the defensive tone, with second, third and fourth efforts inspiring his teammates, while the desperation of returning wingman Elijah Hollands typified the effort with a rundown tackle stopping a second quarter Saints goal.

Gold Coast dominated the contested possession count (153-132) and won clearances 40-27 to control the match, while Wil Powell (26, with 13 intercepts) and Rory Atkins (31 and two goals) had major influences.

The Suns started a million miles an hour, playing a care-free brand of football in the first quarter, playing on from marks and taking the game on at every chance.

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The Suns and Saints clash in round 18.

Although it led to some errors, it also gave the forwards plenty of space to work in, resulting in three first-term goals.

The Saints bit back early in the second with two goals to Cooper Sharman, but it was short-lived as the hyper-intense Suns regained control.

St Kilda looked half a step off the pace most of the day, and although battled until the final siren, rarely challenge and are now battling to keep their spot in the eight.

GOLD COAST  3.2   5.6  9.7  11.11 (77)
ST KILDA  0.1  2.2  5.3  8.3 (51)

GOALS 
Gold Coast: Lukosius 4, Atkins 2, Macpherson, Humphrey, Casboult, Anderson, Ainsworth
St Kilda: Sharman 3, Wood, Phillipou, Marshall, Gresham, Caminiti

BEST 
Gold Coast: Flanders, Powell, Anderson, Atkins, Lukosius, Witts, Holman
St Kilda: Windhager, Wanganeen-Milera, Sharman, Hill, Crouch

INJURIES 
Gold Coast: Nil
St Kilda: Nil

SUBSTITUTES
Gold Coast: Brayden Fiorini (replaced Hewago Oea in the fourth quarter)
St Kilda: Hunter Clark (replaced Mattaes Phillipou in the third quarter)

Crowd: 13,015 at Heritage Bank Stadium

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