Port Adelaide has grinded out a nine-point win over Gold Coast in wet and miserable conditions at Metricon Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The 7.14 (56) to 7.5 (47) victory all but ended Gold Coast's hopes of making a maiden finals appearance.
It wasn't pretty, and the Power were relentless for four quarters, but they still had to hold off a late SUNS charge to seal their second win from the past seven matches.
Leading by 14 points midway through the last quarter, they looked home and hosed, but goals by Daniel Gorringe and a freakish left-foot snap by Harley Bennell drew Gold Coast within three points.
Chad Wingard steadied with a mark and goal to see the visitors through to their 13th win of the season.
For much of the day, it looked more a matter of when rather than if the Power would win as they completely dominated the inside 50 count 72-39.
But a SUNS team that was ravaged by injury would not die.
They lost Steven May (hamstring) during the week, Greg Broughton (elbow) before the match and Charlie Dixon (quad), Jack Martin (leg) and Danny Stanley (shoulder) during the match.
They were desperate until the end and were best served by Bennell (27 disposals and two goals), Dion Prestia (25) and Tom Lynch (18 and seven marks).
Gold Coast showed more endeavour than any of its previous four matches, with Jaeger O'Meara, Martin and recalled Seb Tape all ferocious in their first contests.
GOLD COAST 3.2 4.3 5.4 7.5 (47)
PORT ADELAIDE 1.5 2.8 4.12 7.14 (56)
GOALS
Gold Coast: Bennell 2, Kolodjashnij, Matera, Lynch, Harbrow, Gorringe
Port Adelaide: Westhoff, Gray, White, Hartlett, Schulz, Moore, Wingard
BEST
Gold Coast: Bennell, Lynch, Prestia, McKenzie, Rischitelli
Port Adelaide: Hartlett, Westhoff, Lobbe, Gray, Jonas
INJURIES
Gold Coast: Dixon (quad), Martin (leg), Stanley (shoulder)
Port Adelaide: Trengrove (ankle), Monfries (TBC), Hartlett (ankle)
SUBSTITUTES
Gold Coast: Louis Herbert on for Charlie Dixon in the second quarter.
Port Adelaide: Aaron Young on for Jared Polec in the third quarter.
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Fisher, Nicholls and Hay
Official crowd: 10,042 at Metricon Stadium
