Greater Western Sydney has narrowly survived a mighty scare to hold off a brave Gold Coast and win by eight points in a thrilling contest at Metricon Stadium on Saturday night.
Trailing by four points with five minutes remaining, the Giants relied on quick goals from Jeremy Cameron and Toby Greene to sneak home, 14.8 (92) to 13.6 (84).
The win keeps them in third place with three rounds remaining.
The Giants may have won, but the SUNS were heroic in defeat.
Already undermanned with their seven best midfielders on the sidelines, Gold Coast had Alex Sexton (corked thigh) and Tom Nicholls (knee) barely able to run for most of the night but battling on regardless.
They led by six points at every change – and the scores were tied on seven occasions - but the Giants' running power late in the match was just enough to get them over the line.
Coach Leon Cameron will be happy to take the four premiership points back to Sydney, but his team had to work the entire way.
For the SUNS, stand-in skipper Steven May was a colossus in defence, finishing with 27 touches and 14 marks – many of them intercepts.
Tom Lynch kicked four goals to join Lance Franklin on top of the Coleman Medal table with 61, while Jarrod Harbrow (24) and Jack Martin (22) were also key contributors.
Gold Coast hardly had a poor player.
It was a fantastic contest, free-flowing for most of the night, and both teams were frantic around the contest.
The Giants knew they were in for a battle from the opening 30 seconds when Lynch kicked his first goal.
The SUNS had three goals on the board inside the opening five minutes as GWS looked half asleep.
Once they joined the contest, the teams put on some of the best footy seen at Metricon Stadium this season.
The ball went from one end to the other as the teams traded goals.
GOLD COAST 5.2 9.5 12.6 13.6 (84)
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY 4.2 8.5 11.6 14.8 (92)
GOALS
Gold Coast: Lynch 4, Matera 2, Davis 2, Wright 2, Nicholls, Hallahan, Garlett
Greater Western Sydney: Cameron 4, Johnson 2, Patton 2, Greene 2, Smith, Reid, Ward, Lobb
BEST
Gold Coast: May, Harbrow, Kolodjashnij, Lynch, Martin, Ah Chee
Greater Western Sydney: Coniglio, Scully, Johnson, Williams, Patton, Greene
INJURIES
Gold Coast: Sexton (corked quad), Nicholls (knee)
Greater Western Sydney: Nil
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Deboy, Chamberlain, Meredith
Official crowd: 9,108 at Metricon Stadium
