The Bombers prevailed 14.19 (103) to 8.7 (55) at Marvel Stadium on Sunday to continue their late-season resurgence with a fourth win in five games.
But while Ben Rutten's side are out of the finals picture, the Suns were left to rue a missed opportunity in a bitterly disappointing performance with so much on the line.
The door opened for a group of teams chasing eighth spot when incumbents Richmond were upset by last-placed North Melbourne on Saturday.
Gold Coast (8-8) failed to take advantage and now sit one win behind the Tigers, Western Bulldogs and St Kilda (all 9-7) ahead of a huge clash with Queensland rivals Brisbane in round 19.
Their percentage was 108.9 but dropped to 104.7 as a result of their thumping from Essendon.
The Bombers' latest triumph was built on superior intensity around the ball and a hard-running midfield, which set up ample opportunities to kick a winning score.
Zach Merrett (36 disposals), Mason Redman (34) and Dylan Shiel (29) racked up touches and Jake Stringer kicked four goals, while former Suns forward Peter Wright, Harrison Jones, Nic Martin and Sam Draper kicked two goals each.
Cult hero Draper provided the highlight with a running goal-of-the-year contender direct from a centre bounce during the final quarter, shrugging off two opponents as he galloped towards goal.
The ruckman's finish on the outside of his right boot brought the house down.
Gold Coast duo Noah Anderson (24 disposals, seven clearances) and Touk Miller (28 disposals, seven tackles, nine clearances) were in the thick of the action but the Suns had few clear winners.
Wright kicked two of Essendon's four majors inside the opening nine minutes in a hot start but Suns talls Mabior Chol and Levi Casboult responded with two each to level the scores.
There was some feeling in the contest as Bombers duo Ben Hobbs and Redman felt the brunt of respective David Swallow and Sam Day bumps.
Essendon reasserted their authority around the contest in the second term, with Shiel and Merrett prominent, and led by five goals at the main break - a margin that would have been greater but for wayward goal-kicking.
It was more of the same in the second half and the Bombers sent their home crowd into party mode when Draper kicked their first goal of the final term.
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