There has been mass carnage during Gold Coast’s clash with Melbourne with the Demons coming out second best in a bruising encounter at People First Stadium on Saturday.

Melbourne lost Blake Howes midway through the second term, subbed out with concussion, only to reveal not long after that swingman Harrison Petty would take no further part in the game, also due to concussion.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Oliver and Miller clash heads in scary collision.

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Petty came off second best after he was collected high by Brayden Fiorini in the opening minutes of the second term.

Both players went down to collect a loose ball, but Fiorini turned and his hip made contact with the top of Petty’s head.

He was taken from the field and eventually ruled out with concussion, which means Fiorini faces a nervous wait from the match review officer.

In the meantime, star midfielder Clayton Oliver also left the ground with blood streaming from his head after a nasty collision with the Suns’ Touk Miller.

Despite the injuries, the Demons managed to stage a mini fightback in the second quarter after failing to score a goal in the first term.

Melbourne were trailing by 37 points at quarter time but kicked five in the second to reduce the margin to 24 points at the main break.

Oliver was able to continue in the second half but had his forehead and nose seriously strapped, while substitute Harry Sharp was injected into the action.

“You wouldn’t want Clayton Oliver walking up to you in a dark alley looking like that,” Dwayne Russell said in the commentary, referring to Oliver’s masked face.

However, the Demons failed to make any inroads into the deficit with the Suns kicking away in the third term.

They added six more goals to the Demons’ two to open up a healthy 46-point lead at the final change.

Melbourne suddenly sprung into action late on with four quick goals, but the Suns steadied to seal the important 19-point victory.

It was the Suns’ first win in four matches as Damien Hardwick’s team bounced back from last weekend’s disappointment against GWS to move to sixth on the ladder.

Defeat is the Demons’ fourth in a row and leaves them in 15th place, 16 points outside the eight and all but certain to be out of finals contention.

As well as the injuries, Melbourne defender Steven May faces a nervous wait from the match review officer.

The veteran came charging in and collected Bailey Humphrey with a high shot during the third term.

The incident sparked a mini melee with players rushing in from all angles.

Matt Rowell, who recently inked a new two-year deal with the Suns, was outstanding with 24 possessions (19 contested), 11 tackles and 12 clearances.

Midfield mates Noah Anderson, Sam Flanders and Fiorini were also prominent, while John Noble provided plenty of dash off half-back and Ben King kicked three goals up forward.

Melbourne veteran Jake Melksham was the best forward on the ground, finishing with 5.6 in a near match-winning performance.

Kysaiah Pickett had a massive last quarter to finish with three goals and 25 touches, while Christian Petracca had 32 disposals.