WEST Coast has snapped a nine-game losing run and all but ended Gold Coast's season in the process, winning a heart-stopping Friday night thriller by 10 points at Optus Stadium to deliver caretaker coach Jarrad Schofield his maiden win. 

The Eagles trailed almost the entire night in a gruelling, physical clash, but they always remained in striking distance and timed their run to perfection, kicking two goals in the last five minutes to win 15.7 (97) to 13.9 (87).

EAGLES v SUNS Full match coverage and stats

The crowd erupted on the siren as a classic version of the club's song rang out across Optus Stadium, with the Eagles celebrating their first win since beating Melbourne in round 10 and just their fourth for the season. 

Co-captain Liam Duggan emerged as the hero late, snapping a brilliant goal out of a forward 50 stoppage to give West Coast a four-point lead, with premiership teammate Jamie Cripps sealing the win with a classy inside-out snap on the boundary with less than three minutes to play.

It was a bitter blow for the Suns, who remain winless away from home this season and last tasted victory on the road in round nine last season when they beat West Coast at the same venue on a Friday night. 

They looked well placed to end that horror run early in the third quarter when they broke away to a 23-point lead, but Eagles forward Jake Waterman emerged in the second half to kick three of his four goals and spearhead his team's win. 

Midfielders Tim Kelly (29 disposals and eight clearances) and Elliot Yeo (26 and five) were outstanding, along with Duggan, who returned from concussion to have 22 disposals, five clearances and six inside 50s.   

Star defender Jeremy McGovern returned from a rib injury to hold an undersized backline together, while a host of young players grew in stature to help seal a memorable win for their team.

Tough onballer Matt Rowell did everything he could to stand in their way, winning 13 of his 30 disposals in the final quarter and finishing with 11 clearances and 21 contested possessions, but the Suns ultimately had too few able to win the critical contests down the stretch. 

Coach Damien Hardwick pulled a surprise early when he sent intercepting defender Mac Andrew forward, with the young Sun straight into the action with a goal in the opening minute to get the Eagles' coaches' box scrambling through its defensive options. 

Harry Edwards settled into the match-up, but he was soon found trailing the young Sun as Andrew stayed on the move inside 50 and beat his man on the lead for a second goal, showcasing a natural goalkicking action.

The intercept defender should have had a third after keeping the ball in play and snapping accurately, but the ball was deemed out of bounds by the umpire and he was instead penalised for time wasting. 

Both teams were unsettled by injuries in the first quarter as Oscar Allen left the ground for a finger problem, Sam Flanders and Waterman clashed heads, and Ben King underwent assessment for a head knock when he was crunched in a marking contest. 

Edwards was eventually substituted at the start of the second quarter after a head knock in the same contest, leaving Reuben Ginbey to handle Andrew, whose move forward was shaping as critical in a tight start. 

The game was riddled with simple skill errors through the second quarter but the goals flowed, with young Eagle Zane Trew swooping on a spilt ball to kick a classy running goal. 

The Eagles' tall forwards also came into the game as Allen and Waterman took contested marks and converted, with wing/forward Ryan Maric adding another after a flying pack mark.  

It could have been a five-point margin at the main break, but the Suns pounced for back-to-back goals in red time, with ruckman Jarrod Witts holding his nerve from the boundary line after the siren. 

The margin was quickly out to 23 points early in the third when dangerous midfielder Noah Anderson was left in space at a forward 50 stoppage. 

The Eagles rallied to kick four in a row, however, as a see-sawing third term set the stage for a thrilling finish, with Kelly and Yeo outstanding when the game was on the line, winning nine disposals each in the final quarter to lead the charge. 

The Suns, meanwhile, will rue some missed chances late after being in a winning position but had too many players found wanting in the heat of the final 10 minutes.

A glimpse into the future 
Schofield selected seven players aged 20 or under, and he was rewarded with one of the team's most energetic and balanced performances for the season. With the leaders leading, the Eagles' youth stood tall as Jack Williams, Zane Trew, Harvey Johnston, Tyrell Dewar and Clay Hall all had big moments. Williams was particularly influential in the third quarter as a forward/ruck, winning nine disposals and snapping a terrific goal. Dewar was also critical with two third-quarter goals, while Hall showed composure with a daring run out of defence and Johnston delivered the ball inside 50 with poise.

Timing off for Edwards 
With Tom Barrass sidelined with concussion and speculation swirling about his future, young key defender Harry Edwards has emerged as a critical player both now and in the future for the Eagles. Coming out of contract and in talks to extend, the stage was set for him to play a key role on Friday night before suffering a head knock in the first quarter after being crunched in a marking contest. He was placed into concussion protocols, leaving Reuben Ginbey to play as an undersized key defender and robbing Edwards of more critical experience against North Melbourne next week. 

King gets kicking back on track  
The goalkicking yips looked likely to extend for Suns spearhead Ben King after he opened Friday night's clash with 0.3. An open goal halfway through the second quarter got him going, and from there he was able to make the most of set-shot opportunities from 20m and then 45m, playing a crucial role as the Suns held the Eagles at bay late in the third quarter. Jeremy McGovern eventually got the better of him as the game intensified in the second half.  

WEST COAST          2.2     6.2     11.4     15.7 (97)  
GOLD COAST          3.3     8.7     12.7     13.9 (87)  

GOALS
West Coast: Waterman 4, Dewar 2, Allen 2, J.Williams, Trew, Ryan, Maric, Duggan, Darling, Cripps
Gold Coast: Long 3, King 3, Andrew 3, Witts, Graham, Fiorini, Anderson

BEST
West Coast: Yeo, Waterman, Kelly, Ginbey, Duggan, McGovern, Darling, J.Williams
Gold Coast: Rowell, Anderson, Flanders, Witts, Andrew, Powell, King 

INJURIES
West Coast: Allen (finger), Edwards (head knock)  
Gold Coast: King (head knock)  

SUBSTITUTES
West Coast: Clay Hall (replaced Harry Edwards in the second quarter)
Gold Coast: Malcolm Rosas jnr (replaced Joel Jeffrey in the final quarter)

Crowd: 38,671 at Optus Stadium