GOLD Coast held off a charging Collingwood to keep its finals dreams alive with an 11-point triumph at a packed People First Stadium on Saturday.
Leading by 26 points at the last change, the Suns watched on as the Magpies made their customary comeback, taking the lead with four minutes remaining via a Nathan Kreuger goal.
But unlike so many teams before them in the same position, Gold Coast responded. Ben Long kicked a goal from 50m on the run to regain the lead before Ben Ainsworth iced one of the best wins in club history with a left foot snap.
The 14.17 (101) to 13.12 (90) triumph moved the Suns to an 8-7 win-loss record to keep them in touch with the top eight.
This was a thrilling, end-to-end contest, and again the Magpies played a huge role.
Despite its heavy deficit at three-quarter time, they always looked likely to make a charge, able to transition the ball from one end of the ground to the other consistently throughout the contest.
Jordan De Goey's magnificent running goal from the boundary line, followed by a piece of Nick Daicos genius moments later, in which he was involved three times in the build-up before a glorious right foot finish, had the Magpies believing.
The duo were incredible all night, but fell on the wrong side this time.
GOLD COAST 4.2 8.6 12.11 14.17 (101)
COLLINGWOOD 4.3 5.4 8.9 13.12 (90)
GOALS
Gold Coast: King 4, Lukosius 2, Long 2, Ainsworth 2, Holman, Flanders, Day, Graham
Collingwood: Mihocek 2, De Goey 2, N.Daicos 2, Pendlebury, Lipinski, Kreuger, Howe, Hoskin-Elliott, Hill, J.Daicos
INJURIES
Gold Coast: Nil
Collingwood: McCreery (calf)
SUBSTITUTES
Gold Coast: Bailey Humphrey (replaced David Swallow in the third quarter)
Collingwood: Joe Richards (replaced Beau McCreery in the third quarter)
Crowd: 23,029 at People First Stadium
