In a match that had no bearing on the finals, Port Adelaide wizard Robbie Gray provided the magic and dragged them to a 23-point win over Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium.
Gray finished with 34 disposals and four goals – three in the third quarter – to steer the Power to a 13.11 (89) to 9.12 (66) victory.
Port looked home and hosed when it skated to a 39-point lead early in the third term, but had to withstand a SUNS fightback to hold on to victory.
Gold Coast kicked five of the final six goals in the third quarter to get within 15 points, but Gray moved into the midfield, steadied the ship and guided his team home in the last.
Jay Schulz kicked three goals in his final game for the club, while Sam Gray was prolific with 32 disposals, Ollie Wines a powerhouse with 30, and Riley Bonner impressive on debut with 22 touches.
The win was Port's 10th in a season that left them with as many questions as answers.
The same could be said of Gold Coast, who started with so much hope but finished with just six wins after a plethora of injuries.
However, they could be proud of their final performance.
Following poor outings against Essendon and Collingwood in the previous fortnight, the SUNS weren't rolling over in their final home game.
They got within 15 points during the last quarter, but couldn't get any closer.
Second-gamer Brayden Fiorini was a highlight for Gold Coast, kicking two goals in the third quarter comeback and finishing with a team-high 32 disposals and 11 tackles.
An uncharacteristic off-night with the boot from Tom Lynch was costly for the home team, with the star forward missing four set shots at goal – most of them easy.
He was his usual tireless self, finishing with 19 disposals and seven marks, but his only goal came from a brilliant running effort from 50m in the last term.
His forward partner-in-crime Sam Day also missed his first three shots – again, all very makeable – but got involved with two third quarter goals.
GOLD COAST 1.4 2.7 7.10 9.12 (66)
PORT ADELAIDE 2.3 6.4 10.7 13.11 (89)
GOALS
Gold Coast: Fiorini 2, Day 2, Rosa, Matera, Sexton, MacPherson, Lynch
Port Adelaide: R. Gray 4, Schulz 3, Boak, Young, S. Gray, Impey, Snelling, Ebert
BEST
Gold Coast: Miller, May, Hallahan, Lynch, Fiorini
Port Adelaide: R. Gray, Wines, Bonner, S. Gray, Ebert, Broadbent
INJURIES
Gold Coast: Nil
Port Adelaide: Austin (lower leg)
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Stephens, Hay, Wallace
Official crowd: 9213 at Metricon Stadium
