The Power dominated proceedings amid the most trying conditions Ken Hinkley's side has faced in season 2014, but was unable to seize the lead on the scoreboard until midway through the third quarter, despite its emphatic control of possession.
A win was never assured in a game where scoring was difficult, despite early goals in the fourth quarter to Jay Schulz and Andrew Moore seeming to break the Suns.
But the Power was challenged by the determined Gold Coast, which closed the margin from 14 to three points after Dan Gorringe and Harley Bennell booted seemingly impossible late majors.
It took a composed kick from Ollie Wines to Chad Wingard in the late stages of the game to seal the nine-point victory.
Earlier, the Power was hampered by the late withdrawal of Jackson Trengove through a tweaked ankle and Angus Monfries in the final warm-up after his hip flexor failed to respond when kicking.
The Suns took the early initiative and booted away thanks to goals through Kolodjashnij, and easy majors to Matera and Bennell collecting the loose ball in the goal square, while a scrambling deflection off Westhoff was a rare highlight for Port in the opening term.
Despite dominating key statistics across the half - particularly disposals and inside 50 entries - the Power was unable to take advantage of its superiority in possession of the ball to impact the scoreboard.
Battling mutltiple opponents against a high incoming football, Jay Schulz was unable to find clear space as the Power's key forward, and it was only through Robbie Gray's curling goal from the pocket the the visitors were able to trouble the scorers again for the half.
Fellow runners Matt White and Jake Neade toiled hard to push forward and create opportunity, but they were unable to work onto the end of the ball at critical points.
It took a spark from the consistent Hamish Hartlett to get the Power going in the third quarter, while Matt Broadbent and Tom Jonas worked hard to provide grunt out of defence.
Despite struggling to win possession during the day, Jared Polec found himself on the end of a tap from Chad Wingard in the Power's attacking pocket to find Matt White in front of goals eight minutes into the third term - the ensuing goal closing the margin back to seven points after Harbrow got the Suns on the scoreboard early.
SCOREBOARD
PORT ADELAIDE 1.5 2.8 4.12 7.14 (56)
GOLD COAST 3.2 4.3 5.4 7.5 (47)
PORTADELAIDEFC.COM.AU'S BEST
Hartlett, Westhoff, Jonas, Lobbe, R. Gray, Broadbent
GOALS
Westhoff, R. Gray, White, Hartlett, Schulz, Moore, Wingard
INJURIES
Trengove (ankle - replaced in selected side by Logan), Monfries (hip flexor - replaced in selected side by Young), Hartlett (rolled ankle)
REPORTS
Nil
CROWD
10,042 at Metricon Stadium
Despite dominating key statistics across the half - particularly disposals and inside 50 entries - the Power was unable to take advantage of its superiority in possession of the ball to impact the scoreboard.
Battling mutltiple opponents against a high incoming football, Jay Schulz was unable to find clear space as the Power's key forward, and it was only through Robbie Gray's curling goal from the pocket the the visitors were able to trouble the scorers again for the half.
Fellow runners Matt White and Jake Neade toiled hard to push forward and create opportunity, but they were unable to work onto the end of the ball at critical points.
It took a spark from the consistent Hamish Hartlett to get the Power going in the third quarter, while Matt Broadbent and Tom Jonas worked hard to provide grunt out of defence.
Despite struggling to win possession during the day, Jared Polec found himself on the end of a tap from Chad Wingard in the Power's attacking pocket to find Matt White in front of goals eight minutes into the third term - the ensuing goal closing the margin back to seven points after Harbrow got the Suns on the scoreboard early.
Polec was subbed out of the game shortly after having managed just four touches up to the third quarter.
A strong goal to Hartlett - Port's most consistent all day - ensure the Power edged ahead into three-quarter time.
A strong goal to Hartlett - Port's most consistent all day - ensure the Power edged ahead into three-quarter time.
His afternoon ended prematurely after rolling an ankle in a contest with Gorringe halfway through the final quarter.
SCOREBOARD
PORT ADELAIDE 1.5 2.8 4.12 7.14 (56)
GOLD COAST 3.2 4.3 5.4 7.5 (47)
PORTADELAIDEFC.COM.AU'S BEST
Hartlett, Westhoff, Jonas, Lobbe, R. Gray, Broadbent
GOALS
Westhoff, R. Gray, White, Hartlett, Schulz, Moore, Wingard
INJURIES
Trengove (ankle - replaced in selected side by Logan), Monfries (hip flexor - replaced in selected side by Young), Hartlett (rolled ankle)
REPORTS
Nil
CROWD
10,042 at Metricon Stadium
