Collingwood has put a torrid week behind it, grinding out a 15-point win over Gold Coast at a wet Metricon Stadium on Saturday night.
The Magpies' 15.13 (103) to 13.10 (88) victory saw Gold Coast play the second half with just 20 fit players after losing captain Steven May (hamstring) in the first quarter and midfielder Jarryd Lyons (ankle) in the second.
But it shouldn't take any shine off the Magpies, who snapped a four-game losing streak.
With the ground deluged by rain on two occasions the skills weren't always the best, but both teams cranked the pressure up in an entertaining contest.
In a see-sawing match, Ben Ainsworth's goal midway through the final term reduced the margin to three points, but back-to-back goals to Josh Thomas and Ben Reid gave the Magpies the breathing space they needed.
The Pies midfield worked tirelessly, and while Adam Treloar and Steele Sidebottom (32 disposals apiece) got the most ball, Taylor Adams (31 and two goals assists) was perhaps the most influential.
Daniel Wells had 18 disposals and two goals in his 250th game and was all class in the wet weather, while Reid (three goals) provided a good target in the forward 50 alongside Darcy Moore, Thomas and Alex Fasolo, who all kicked two apiece.
It took the Pies until the final 10 minutes to get on top, but it was well earned as they dominated most key statistical areas.
They won disposals (408-332), contested possessions (160-136) and inside 50s (63-44).
For Gold Coast, Gary Ablett (41 and 11 clearances) was immense in his first game back from a hamstring injury, while Jack Martin (18 and two goals) was clever and David Swallow (25 disposals) his usual aggressive self.
The SUNS’ intensity cannot be questioned, although some of the decision-making and execution could be.
May's injury not only robbed them of a backline general, but forced a struggling Trent McKenzie off Fasolo – who kicked his two goals on him in the first term – over to Ben Reid.
GOLD COAST 2.1 7.5 10.8 13.10 (88)
COLLINGWOOD 5.4 7.5 10.9 15.13 (103)
GOALS
Gold Coast: Wright 3, Martin 2, Lynch 2, Ainsworth 2, Lyons, Hall, Rischitelli, Swallow
Collingwood: Reid 3, Fasolo 2, Wells 2, Thomas 2, Moore 2, Blair, Elliott, Maynard, Sidebottom
BEST
Gold Coast: Ablett, Rosa, Wright, Ainsworth, Martin
Collingwood: Sidebottom, Treloar, Reid, Fasolo, Pendlebury, Thomas
INJURIES
Gold Coast: May (hamstring), Lyons (ankle)
Collingwood: Nil
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Haussen, Williamson, Mollison
Official crowd: 17,275 at Metricon Stadium
