Josh Fraser's Carlton Blues have kept their Wildcard hopes alive, accounting for Damien Hardwick's Gold Coast Suns 16.14 (110) to 15.7 (97) under the roof at Marvel Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The Blues were made to work for their four points, after error-riddled football from both sides produced a seesawing affair.

Suns skipper Noah Anderson compiled 22 disposals and a Goal of the Year contender to boot in the first half, but was well-held in the second, adding only eight disposals after the main change.

The Suns were belted in major categories, losing tackles once again, this time by 18. They lost disposals by a whopping 117, clearances by nine, and contested possession by 29.

The result all but seals the Gold Coast's fate in 2026. Expectations were placed on the Glitter Strip natives after they broke through for their first finals appearance (and victory) in 2025, under the tutelage of three-time premiership coach, Hardwick.

They then added the skillset of Christian Petracca, started the season on fire, and surged to premiership favouritism. The wheels of certainly fallen off since, with this latest loss at Carlton's hand, their ninth on the trot, and off-field controversies part of their lot.

Carlton's unlikely types were the story of the victory, with youngster Talor Byrne enjoying a breakout performance, alongside the likes of Harry Dean and Jagga Smith who further franked their Rising Star campaigns with influential cameos.

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George Hewett, Will Hayward, Francis Evans and Mitch McGovern combined for 10 majors in Harry McKay's absence, while Gold Coast's in-demand spearhead Ben King reclaimed the lead in the Coleman Medal race, with three goals of his own.

The win was soured by an early hamstring injury to Nic Newman, who was lauded by skipper Patrick Cripps as "one of his favourite teammates" when speaking post-match.

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