GOLD Coast's wait is over. The Suns will play finals for the first time in their 15-year history after demolishing Essendon by a club-record 95 points at People First Stadium on Wednesday night.
After missing chances against Greater Western Sydney and Port Adelaide to lock up a top-eight spot, there would be no such mistake against the depleted Bombers.
Gold Coast put the game to bed with a scintillating seven-goal first quarter and ran out a comprehensive 23.15 (153) to 8.10 (58) victor.
Former skipper Jarrod Witts put the exclamation point on the celebration by kicking a goal after the siren to be mobbed by each and every Suns player.
Their 15th win of the season locked up seventh spot and an elimination final against Fremantle at Optus Stadium.
Not surprisingly, midfield aces Noah Anderson and Matt Rowell were at the centre of the win, putting in performances that could also prove valuable on Brownlow Medal night.
Skipper Anderson said it was a "privilege" to lead his team into such a big match and backed it up with a best afield outing of 34 disposals and three goals.
Rowell blew the game open with his 13 first-quarter touches and finished with 31 for the night that included two goals, the second of which came after palming Andrew McGrath and nailing on the run from 50m.
Anderson, Rowell and Touk Miller were benched for the final seven minutes of the game.
Ben King kicked a career-high seven goals to move to a club-record 69 for the season and second in the Coleman Medal, while John Noble, Lachie Weller and Wil Powell were also exceptional.
It was Essendon's 13th straight loss, and symbolic of its season, came with more injuries as Matt Guelfi (corked calf) and Todd Goldstein (concussion) were out of action before half-time.
After looking flat against the Giants and timid against Port, the Suns burst from the blocks on the back of their leaders.
King used his speed to get on the lead and kick the game's first three goals – the third after Daniel Rioli stormed through the middle of the ground, taking two bounces and deftly weighting a pass onto his full-forward's chest.
Anderson chimed in with the next two goals, including a wonderful 40m checkside after smothering an opponent handpass and slamming it on his right boot.
The Suns took 12 marks inside 50 in the first quarter alone, moving the ball swiftly from half-back with Rioli, Noble and Powell instrumental in providing chances ahead of the ball.
When Rowell slotted a goal on the run just as the quarter-time siren sounded, the home team had a 40-point lead and were charging towards September.
The advantaged stretched to 53 midway through the second term after Ethan Read converted a set shot from the left forward pocket, but the Bombers bit back just before the main break with two quick goals.
Gold Coast kicked six goals in the third quarter as the party began early at Carrara.
GOLD COAST 7.4 9.10 15.15 23.15 (153)
ESSENDON 1.0 3.4 5.6 8.10 (58)
GOALS
Gold Coast: King 7, Anderson 3, Rowell 2, Ainsworth 2, Witts, Rioli, Read, Powell, Long, Humphrey, Fiorini, Farrar, Davies
Essendon: Menzie 3, McMahon, Langford, Kako, Duursma, Durham
BEST
Gold Coast: Anderson, Rowell, King, Powell, Noble, Weller
Essendon: Shiel, Merrett, Clarke, Roberts
INJURIES
Gold Coast: Nil
Essendon: Guelfi (corked calf), Goldstein (concussion)
SUBSTITUTES
Gold Coast: Jake Rogers (replaced Bailey Humphrey at three-quarter time)
Essendon: Rhys Unwin (replaced Matt Guelfi in the second quarter)
Crowd: 16,768 at People First Stadium
