THE FINALS dream is alive for Gold Coast, overcoming Port Adelaide by 14 points at People First Stadium on Sunday to keep its perfect home record intact.
The 14.12 (96) to 12.10 (82) triumph also broke a 13-year drought for the Suns, beating the Power for the first time since the club's historic first win in 2011.
A week after coach Damien Hardwick called for his team to "grow the f*** up", the Suns delivered, with a ferocious intensity that held Ken Hinkley's men at bay most of the day.
They now have a 9-8 win-loss record and sit with a host of teams just outside the top eight, ahead of a date with Greater Western Sydney at Engie Stadium next weekend.
Noah Anderson (29 disposals, 11 clearances and a goal) and Sam Flanders (30) were relentless in the midfield, while Sam Collins was terrific in the defensive 50, strengthening his case for All-Australian selection.
Wil Powell was also among the game's best players, with 21 disposals, a clever left foot goal in the third quarter and an assuredness in the air that complemented the Suns' key defenders superbly.
Port was manful in defeat, playing without Lachie Jones (neck/concussion) for three quarters and Todd Marshall (hip) for two, but the weight of numbers eventually won out.
Gold Coast generated 60 inside 50s to 54 and won the clearance count 36-26 and when Port tried to attack the corridor, they were there in numbers to slow transition.
Following last week's loss against North Melbourne, Hardwick called for improved intent around the contest, and his delivered.
A Bodhi Uwland bearhug tackle on Zak Butters in the middle of the ground set the tone early, forcing a turnover and leading to a Jack Lukosius goal.
Port was up for the contest, trading goals to take a narrow quarter-time lead after Ollie Lord threaded one through from a tight angle on the siren.
After spurning some simple chances in the first quarter, Gold Coast opened a handy lead with some nice transition from the defensive half in the second.
With his midfield pressuring Port Adelaide's entries inside 50, Collins was dominating his match-up with Charlie Dixon and intercepting balls in the air and on the ground.
Lloyd Johnston had the home crowd on its feet with an exciting goal-on-the-run from 40m, while fellow inclusion Malcolm Rosas jnr overcame a quiet start to kick two quick goals and give the Suns a 17-point advantage at the main break.
They maintained that lead for most of the second half and deserved to win.
Zak Butters (35) and Dan Houston (34) got plenty of the ball, while Aliir Aliir (22 and 14 marks) can hold his head high.
GOLD COAST 2.4 8.4 13.6 14.12 (96)
PORT ADELAIDE 3.2 5.5 10.7 12.10 (82)
GOALS
Gold Coast: Humphrey 2, King 2, Lukosius 2, Rosas jnr 2, Ainsworth, Anderson, Flanders, Johnstone, Long, Powell
Port Adelaide: Horne-Francis 2, Mead 2, Boak, Butters, Dixon, Evans, Lord, Narkle, Sweet, Wines
BEST
Gold Coast: Anderson, Collins, Powell, Flanders, Davies, Uwland, Moyle
Port Adelaide: Butters, Aliir, Houston, Rozee, Mead
INJURIES
Gold Coast: Nil
Port Adelaide: Jones (neck/concussion), Marshall (hip)
SUBSTITUTES
Gold Coast: Will Graham (replaced Jed Walter in the third quarter)
Port Adelaide: Francis Evans (replaced Jones at quarter-time)
Crowd: 14,526 at People First Stadium
