Adelaide has stormed to a Club-record fifth straight win to start its season, but the 67-point romp over Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium has come at a cost.
Two-time All Australian fullback Daniel Talia injured his hamstring in the opening minute of the 23.15 (153) to 13.8 (86) victory and did not return to the field.
Talia was chasing opponent Tom Lynch when he grabbed the back of his left leg and limped off.
Young half-forward Riley Knight also left with a hamstring injury in the final quarter.
It made little difference to Adelaide, though.
They were in no mood for a tight contest, leading by 34 points at quarter-time and ruthlessly running away.
The Crows shared the load amongst the midfielders and forwards to put an abrupt halt to the Suns' two-game win streak and strengthen their own premiership claims.
"I was really happy with how we won our share (of the ball), and how we defended in particular, and the way we counter-attacked and scored, so that was some really good positives out of the night," Adelaide coach Don Pyke said.
"Our midfielders hit the scoreboard as well as our forwards.
"We want to have a nice even contribution that we did tonight.
"It's hard to look through and find players who didn't contribute in some way or capacity and that's how we want to play our footy."
All week Gold Coast had spoken of winning the midfield battle to cover for the loss of injured defenders Steven May and Rory Thompson, but the amped-up Crows were having none of it.
Matt Crouch (35 disposals), Rory Laird (33), Rory Sloane (30) and Rory Atkins (29) all got plenty of ball, while Eddie Betts (three goals) continues to lead the Coleman Medal.
Tom Lynch (three goals), Charlie Cameron (two), Taylor Walker (two), Curtly Hampton (two), Andy Otten (two), Troy Menzel (two) and Riley Knight (two) were also among the 13 goalkickers.
Atkins was particularly influential in the first half with his scything runs through the middle, Sloane had an intriguing battle with Gary Ablett (33), and Brad Crouch had an eye-catching first game of the season.
Crouch, who suffered a pre-season hamstring injury and worked his way back through the SANFL the past two weeks, had 22 first-half touches before finishing with 33 and eight tackles.
The Crows ran hard, regularly had more numbers at the contest and used the ball better against a Suns outfit that looked a little flat after defeating Hawthorn and Carlton in the past fortnight.
Gold Coast laid just 49 tackles, with half the team laying just one tackle or less.
Suns coach Rodney Eade said he was pleased the way his team fought and adjusted after half-time, but the damage had already been done.
"We were a bit on the back foot early," Eade said.
"They were proactive to the game and we didn't do what was done in the games we've won where we attacked the contest.
"It looked like some of the guys were waiting to see what happens or waiting for someone else to be a catalyst, which you can't afford to do in this game, especially against a very good team."
Callum Ah Chee kicked five goals, Michael Barlow (36 touches) was busy, and Adam Saad mixed defence and attack well to arguably have the better of his battle with Betts.
The day was summed up right on the stroke of quarter-time for Gold Coast when a contentious rushed behind led to a Menzel goal.
Young defender Kade Kolodjashnij slipped over in his own goalsquare, and with Menzel no more than half-a-metre away, rushed it through for a behind, only to be whistled.
MEDICAL ROOM
Gold Coast: No problems for the Suns, with Michael Barlow (hamstring) and David Swallow (ankle) both getting through unscathed after overcoming niggles during the week.
Adelaide: Talia's early loss was a blow, but Kyle Hartigan battled hard on Lynch and Jake Lever did well on Peter Wright. Both Talia and Knight will face scans during the week to assess their likely stints on the sidelines.
NEXT UP
The Crows have a huge match at Adelaide Oval next Sunday afternoon, taking on the currently undefeated Richmond in the final game of the round. Gold Coast will travel to Melbourne to try and level its season ledger at 3-3, playing North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night.
GOLD COAST 2.2 4.3 8.5 13.8 (86)
ADELAIDE 7.6 11.9 17.12 23.15 (153)
GOALS
Gold Coast: Ah Chee 5, Lynch 2, Hall 2, Matera 2, Sexton, Swallow
Adelaide: Betts 3, Lynch 3, Hampton 2, Cameron 2, Knight 2, Walker 2, Menzel 2, Otten 2, M. Crouch, Sloane, Atkins, Brown, Smith
BEST
Gold Coast: Ablett, Saad, Ah Chee, Barlow, Leslie
Adelaide: Atkins, Sloane, M.Crouch, Laird, Lynch, B.Crouch
INJURIES
Gold Coast: Nil
Adelaide: Talia (hamstring), Knight (hamstring)
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Findlay, O'Gorman, Mitchell
Official crowd: 12,672 at Metricon Stadium
