Injuries and inaccuracy ruled the night as Collingwood held on to secure their 10th win of the season and cement themselves in the finals race.
The two sides came into the clash 8th and 11th on the ladder respectively, with the Suns two wins behind the Magpies – heaping added pressure on the Gold Coast to keep up with the bunched top-eight.
However, finals now seem more distant for Stuart Dew’s men who sit two games behind St Kilda in eighth with seven games remaining.
It was a night that saw both sides struggle to convert their chances to consolidate the lead as the cold and slippery conditions seemingly wreaked havoc on set-shots.
There was nothing in it at quarter time with both sides resisting swings of momentum and showcasing the fight you'd expect for such an important game.
Debutant Hewago Paul Oea snapped through his first goal in the AFL and became the first-ever PNG Development Program player to make it to the AFL.
Cult hero Jack Ginnivan was instrumental early, slotting three first half goals in the slippery conditions and proving a handful before Josh Daicos (three goals, 19 disposals) took the reins in the second half.
The Suns failed to take a mark in the second quarter for 13 minutes as the Pies brought their best, although they were unable to take full toll scoring two goals and four behinds before Izak Rankine slotted a masterful goal from the right forward pocket to stem their momentum.
It was much the same in the second half, with the see-sawing affair continuing what has been a round of tight contests.
First-year half-back Nick Daicos continued his stellar year with 37 disposals in what was potentially the best game of his short career to date.
Controversy-ridden Jordan De Goey returned but was held to just 11 touches in a night the star would rather forget, as AFL Nation’s Brett Phillips mentioned during the last term.
“He’s fumbled a few, he’s been very, very quiet tonight,” he said.
Contrastingly, Touk Miller (31 disposals,10 tackles) was at his usual best alongside Noah Anderson (one goal, 30 disposals) and David Swallow (24 disposals) who were strong all day.
Gold Coast won clearances 42-28 although they failed to capitalise on the forward-half dominance, ultimately costing them the game.
Former St Kilda star Brendon Goddard spoke of the Suns' inaccuracy in the third term.
“It may come back to bite them,” he said.
“Their delivery inside 50 and their decisions going forward were the things that held them back.”
A sparkling last quarter for Rankine - which saw him kick two goals in the first five minutes - changed the complexion of the game and led to high praise from Goddard.
“These three minutes of football may be match-winning for Izak Rankine,” he said.
However, there was yet another twist in the exhilarating game, as Josh Daicos and Brody Mihocek slotted goals to level scores with just over five minutes left on the clock before Will Hoskin-Elliot continued the momentum to put the black and white in front.
Carnage then ensued.
In the desperation of the clash Connor Budarick, returning from a hamstring injury, went down after a crucial spoil in the dying stages of the game in what seemed to be a serious injury to his right knee.
Just moments later in another huge contest, star defender Darcy Moore left the field with a hyperextension of his left knee. The injury proved a huge dampener on the win and will leave Collingwood fans hoping it isn’t as dire as it looked.
Collingwood will go into the clash with the bottom-of-the-ladder North Melbourne as heavy favourites next round, while the Suns will look to throw everything they have at Richmond to keep the slim chance of finals alive in 2022.
FULL SCORE
Gold Coast: 3.4, 5.6, 6.11, 8.14 (62)
Collingwood: 3.4, 6.9, 6.10, 9.13 (67)
GOALS
Gold Coast: Rankine 4, Chol, Casboult, Oea, Anderson
Collingwood: Ginnivan 3, J Daicos 3, Henry, Mihocek
BEST
Gold Coast: T Miller, I Rankine, N Anderson, D Swallow
Collingwood: N Daicos, J Daicos, J Ginnivan, S Sidebottom, B Maynard, J Crisp
INJURIES
Gold Coast: Connor Budarick (right knee), Ben Ainsworth (ankle)
Collingwood: Darcy Moore (left knee)