A SIX-GOAL haul from a rejuvenated Liam Picken has seen the Western Bulldogs cruise to a comfortable 54-point win over Gold Coast at Cazaly's Stadium in Cairns.

The Dogs' finals hopes would have been in severe jeopardy if they'd lost, and they were challenged by the Suns, particularly in the third quarter, as Rodney Eade's men got the margin inside a goal.

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However, with Tom Lynch (one goal) struggling again, Gold Coast had little to kick to up forward, while the Dogs had the best sharpshooter on the ground in Picken. 

Five talking points: Westerrn Bulldogs v Gold Coast

His six-goal game was the best haul by any player in Cairns, as his team won 16.14 (110) to 8.8 (56).

WATCH: Picken's record haul at Cazaly's

However, the reigning premiers suffered a serious injury blow, with veteran defender Dale Morris coming off in the second quarter with a broken right forearm.

The 34-year-old's wretched run with injury continued in the second quarter at Cazaly's Stadium in Cairns when he fell awkwardly in a marking contest with Suns captain Tom Lynch.

It is likely to end his season and could spell the end of the road for Morris, who famously played through last year's finals series with fractured vertebrae.

"It's unfortunate, he's been such a sensational player for a long time," coach Luke Beveridge said after the game.

"It's a pretty serious injury."

Morris indicated earlier this month he was keen to play on in 2018 but his latest setback could change the landscape.

"We've got to work through all that with Dale and work out whether it's right for him and right for the club," Beveridge said.

"We'll get him right with his arm over the next few weeks and we'll talk about those things a bit later."

The defender's misfortune soured the Bulldogs' win, their first outside of Victoria this season and biggest against the Suns at Cazaly's Stadium.

It leaves the reigning premiers in 11th position, but they are now outside the top eight only on percentage.

The Bulldogs led by eight points at the first change after kicking into a strong breeze and then used it to their advantage in the second term to increase the margin to 20 points at half-time.

But the Suns, who were without midfield stars Gary Ablett (hamstring) and Jarryd Lyons (ankle) and lost key defender Rory Thompson just before the match, would not go away.

They kicked four of the next five goals - two of them from gun rookie Ben Ainsworth - to close within one point.

But that was as close as they got.

Picken's fifth goal reversed the momentum before the Bulldogs put the game to bed with another seven unanswered goals to delight the crowd of 9,364.

The Suns scored just one behind in the last quarter.

"With an inexperienced, undermanned defence, we tired a bit around the ball," coach Rodney Eade said.

"That's where they got on top. We couldn't spread like they could, we started making a lot more errors with fatigue.

"That's an area we as a club have got to improve, our ability to run out games."

Bulldogs forward Jack Redpath could come under Match Review Panel scrutiny for jumper-punching Lynch in a scuffle after the quarter-time siren.

MEDICAL ROOM
Western Bulldogs: Dale Morris' wretched run with injuries this season has continued, with the veteran sustaining a broken right forearm.

Gold Coast: Midfielder Alex Sexton was helped from the ground with an arm injury early in the last term, but returned to the field late in the game.

NEXT UP
The Bulldogs have an eight-day break before fronting up to Etihad Stadium where they’ll take on an in-form Essendon, in a crucial clash for both clubs. The Suns will host Richmond at Metricon Stadium on Saturday night.

WESTERN BULLDOGS     4.4   7.6    10.9   16.14 (110)
GOLD COAST                   3.2    4.4    8.7    8.8 (56)

Western Bulldogs: Picken 6, Dale 3, Dahlhaus 2, Redpath, Liberatore, Roughead, Murphy, Wallis
Gold Coast: Ainsworth 2, Martin 2, Swallow, Wright, Lynch, Hall

BEST
Western Bulldogs: Picken, McLean, Dahlhaus, Hunter, Wallis
Gold Coast: Fiorini, Martin, Lynch, Hall

INJURIES
Western Bulldogs: Morris (broken arm)
Gold Coast: Nil

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Hayden Gavine, Chris Kamolins, Nathan Williamson

Official crowd: 9,364 at Cazaly’s Stadium, Cairns