There is no questioning the difficult nature of the last week in football, both internally and across the entire football landscape. But in the face of adversity, Gold Coast spearhead Charlie Dixon produced a first class performance to put North Melbourne to the sword with a club record seven-goals.



The 25-year-old was unstoppable on Saturday night, ragdolling Kangaroos full back Robbie Tarrant across the entire encounter to be the most damaging player on the ground.



On a night dominated by the return of an ornament of the game - Gary Ablett – Dixon put on a clinic, with North Melbourne’s defence having no answers for the big bustling Dixon who did his damage on the lead, in the air and on the ground.



“It’s been a tough year really, on and off the field for the boys, and especially this week. But to come out like that and to win the way we did, I think it’s a real credit to the lads to really dig in and show that we’re here to win games,” Dixon told SUNS RAW after Gold Coast’s 55-point win.



After threatening to tear Carlton apart last weekend before succumbing to an ankle injury that forced him to be substituted out of the game, Dixon did precisely that on Saturday night.



Fellow key forward Tom Lynch may have been down on impact from his usual lofty standards, but his unrewarded influence on Dixon against North Melbourne, and in recent weeks didn’t go unnoticed.



“It’s taken a bit (to build the synergy again), but I love playing with Tommy he’s just a work horse and he sets a lot of ball up for me,” Dixon said.



“Tommy sort of had more of a pre season and I never sort of get a pre season in. But my fitness is slowly getting there.”



The return of the captain captivated the football world and with good reason. After a slow start, the dual Brownlow medallist regained form and confidence in the second half to help lift the SUNS.



But his influence on the young side was far greater than purely disposals and scoreboard impact, with Dixon lauding Ablett’s ability to lift the entire group by his on-field feats.



“He’s a phenomenal player. He does a few things and it can lift the group just like that. He’s really good to have back out there,” he said.

A new club record for Charlie Dixon - SEVEN Goals #takeabow #AFLSunsNorth — GC SUNS (@GoldCoastSUNS) July 4, 2015