GOLD Coast has kept its Darwin fortress intact in the most thrilling fashion, holding off a barnstorming Western Bulldogs to win by 10 points at TIO Stadium in one of the games of the season on Saturday night.

The SUNS had a 28-point lead midway through the final quarter and the game appeared over, but the Bulldogs had other ideas. 

With two goals to Sam Davidson, one to Lachlan McNeil and another to Marcus Bontempelli, the Dogs drew within three points with three minutes remaining.

Gold Coast held on in the desperate final moments though, winning critical contests before a Ben King goal on the siren completed the 15.16 (106) to 14.12 (96) win.

They are now a perfect 7-0 in the Top End since taking home games north in 2022, with Hawthorn the next opponent on Thursday night to open Sir Doug Nicholls Round.

In typically hot and humid conditions, Gold Coast was fractionally better in most areas and did just enough to move to a 6-2 win-loss record.

Local product Daniel Rioli was magnificent, making the slippery ball look dry as he routinely scooped it up at top pace in traffic to launch Gold Coast attacks.

The three-time premiership player finished with 24 disposals, including a 50m goal on the run to send the local crowd into raptures.

Touk Miller, Noah Anderson and Matt Rowell were all relentless in a fantastic midfield battle, while Joel Jeffrey and John Noble were also excellent across the SUNS' half-back line.

The Bulldogs will lose no fans with that performance, despite having their three-game winning streak snapped.

Gold Coast threatened to jump out to big leads on numerous occasions, but every time they got a two- or three-goal break, Luke Beveridge’s men would fight back.

Ed Richards (31 disposals, one goal and three assists) and Tom Liberatore (35, 10 clearances and 10 tackles) were arguably the two best players on the ground.

James O'Donnell was magnificent in defence, while Bailey Williams was also effective and sweeping up loose balls.

Gold Coast got out to the quick start, kicking four of the game’s first five goals, as they managed to generate turnovers in the front half of the ground and punish the Bulldogs going the other way.

Rioli thrilled the home fans when he converted on the run from 50m after some lovely hands from Anderson, while Sam Flanders gave the SUNS a three-goal lead after Wil Powell cleared the way for him.

The Dogs were having their way at stoppages though, particularly Bontempelli and Liberatore, and kicked three consecutive goals either side of the first change to bring the teams back together.

Matthew Kennedy continued his fine season and was the unlikely first-half target with three goals, while Coleman Medal leader King gave Gold Coast some breathing space at the main break with a steady set shot.

Although the SUNS had more entries forward in the opening two quarters, O’Donnell was superb in the air and Williams at ground level to help hold back the tide.

Rowell’s big third quarter

Following a quiet fortnight against Sydney and Brisbane, and then a first half where he was thereabouts but not quite having his usual impact, Matt Rowell exploded in the third quarter to help separate the game. The former No.1 draft pick was at his ball-winning best, racking up nine disposals and helping the SUNS go forward time after time. It wasn't just the touches, but the damage he was doing with them, kicking a brilliant goal off a step from 45m and then delivering one on a plate to Ben King moments later as Gold Coast kicked six goals to four.

Super Buku

You had to see this to believe it. Late in the first half the Bulldogs kicked long into their forward line where Buku Khamis took flight. With 201cm Mac Andrew standing in his way, Khamis leapt right over Andrew's shoulders, clipping the young SUN's head with his knee on the way past. He didn't pull down the mark, and thankfully Andrew passed his Head Injury Assessment, but Khamis genuinely performed an athletic feat not many will in 2025.

GOLD COAST             4.5       6.8       12.13  15.16 (106)

WESTERN BULLDOGS         3.3       5.7       9.9       14.12 (96)

GOALS
Gold Coast: King 3, Holman 2, Graham 2, Flanders 2, Rowell, Rioli, Noble, Long, Clohesy, Ainsworth

Western Bulldogs: Kennedy 3, West 2, Vandermeer 2, Davidson 2, Sanders, Bontempelli, McNeil, Richards, Khamis

BEST
Gold Coast: Rioli, Anderson, Miller, Rowell, Noble, Jeffrey, Humphrey 

Western Bulldogs: Richards, Liberatore, O’Donnell, Bontempelli, Williams, Kennedy

INJURIES
Gold Coast: Nil

Western Bulldogs: Vandermeer (calf tightness)

SUBSTITUTES
Gold Coast: Jake Rogers (replaced Nick Holman in the fourth quarter)

Western Bulldogs: Harvey Gallagher (replaced Vandermeer at three quarter time)

Crowd: 9816 at TIO Stadium