In round 23 last season, West Coast finished its season in a blaze of glory by eclipsing Gold Coast by 52 points at Metricon Stadium.
Despite having their slim finals hopes dashed the previous day by Richmond's upset win over the Sydney Swans, the Eagles racked up their 11th win of the season with a 23.13 (151) to 15.9 (99) victory.
They led by just two points at half-time, but slammed on 11 third quarter goals – four to Josh Kennedy - to blow the game open.
In a game light on for defensive pressure, Kennedy beat SUNS full-back Rory Thompson for the second time this season.
He was near unstoppable on the lead, and with silver service from a midfield under very little pressure, was able to better his tally of seven kicked against the same opponent in round 13.
For the SUNS, Jack Martin was a one-man highlight reel, playing by far the best game of his disrupted first season to finish with 19 touches and four goals.
One passage of play in the second quarter captured everything good about the 19-year-old.
He ran 60m flat out to take a mark at half-back, delivered it perfectly and then took off on another 60m arcing run forward where he took another mark at half-forward.
He then put the ball on the chest of leading Tom Lynch – all in the space of 30 seconds.
Throw in a high-leaping pack mark in the third quarter, perfect 40m pass on the left foot to Harley Bennell and another big leap and mark at full stretch, and Martin showed a little bit of everything.
Midfielders Michael Rischitelli (34) and Dion Prestia (30) also got plenty of the ball.
But with finals out of the equation for both teams, they let their hair down and played a carefree and exciting brand of footy that ultimately suited the Eagles.
There were 12 first-quarter goals – six apiece – as players ran free with minimal defensive pressure.
The only bit of aggression came when Kennedy was reported for a strike on SUNS midfielder David Swallow.
Swallow was tracking a loose ball back when Kennedy clumsily hit him high, sparking an instant remonstration from Thompson that brought players rushing in from both teams.
It was a momentary bit of niggle in an otherwise free-wheeling game.
In the end, Gold Coast (10-12) won just three of its final 13 matches.
GOLD COAST 6.3 9.6 11.8 15.9 (99)
WEST COAST 6.2 9.8 20.10 23.13 (151)
GOALS
Gold Coast: Martin 4, Lynch 3, Matera 2, Rischitelli, Day, Bennell, Swallow, Sexton, Lonergan
West Coast: Kennedy 8, LeCras 4, Naitanui 3, Selwood, Shuey, Lycett, Darling, McGinnity, Hill, Cripps, Butler
BEST
Gold Coast: Martin, Swallow, Lynch, Rischitelli, Prestia
West Coast: Kennedy, LeCras, Naitanui, Shuey, Masten
Crowd: 11,840
