GOLD Coast has overcome wasteful kicking in front of goal to run out three-point upset winners over Fremantle on Sunday. 

Conditions were perfect at Metricon Stadium, but both teams struggled for any free flowing football in a dour affair.

Despite nearly kicking themselves out of the game with 0.8 in the third quarter, the Suns ran out 7.19 (61) to 8.10 (58) victors.

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Captain David Swallow sealed the win with a late set shot with four minutes remaining, while former Docker Sam Collins - who Gold Coast secured courtesy of the AFL’s special assistance package last year – took a desperate mark in defence to stop Fremantle's last forward foray.

Jarrod Harbrow was the catalyst for the Suns in the final quarter, driving his team forward as they overcame Fremantle's nine-point three-quarter time lead.

Harbrow finished with 32 possessions and nine marks in a best on ground performance.

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He was ably assisted by Swallow (30 disposals) and Jack Bowes (27 disposals).

Nat Fyfe starred in the Fremantle midfield with 31 possessions and 10 marks, with Bradley Hill (32) and Ed Langdon (26) also impressive.

Sun Alex Sexton was lively again in the Gold Coast forward line, finishing with a match-high four goals, leaving him as an unlikely Coleman Medal leader after two rounds.

However, the Sun will rue several missed set shots, including two misses in a string of six consecutive Gold Coast points to start the third term.

Where the Suns were wasteful, the Dockers made the most of their opportunities, putting on a run of three goals to jump to the lead at the final break. 

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McCarthy was the spark that started the Dockers' comeback, scoring two goals and setting up another.

It was a far cry from the fast, free-flowing Fremantle that smashed North Melbourne by 82 points at Optus Stadium last week.

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Prize recruit Jesse Hogan made a solid start to his career in purple, comfortably swinging between the forward line and midfield.

The ex-Demon – who missed last week's stirring win over North Melbourne due to anxiety and made headlines for what Fremantle called "poor choices around alcohol" – bounced back to finish with 21 possessions and three marks.

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While not impacting the scoreboard, the Docker's field kicking was a highlight.

McCarthy, Taberner and Colyer finished with two goals apiece for the visitors.

MEDICAL ROOM

Gold Coast: An added bonus on top of the win for the Suns was a clean bill of health post-match.  

Fremantle: Luke Ryan came off the ground after a collision and was looked at by medical staff, but returned to play out the match.

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NEXT UP
Fremantle returns home next week to play another Sunday afternoon match against the undefeated St Kilda at Domain Stadium. Gold Coast will head down to Melbourne to face the Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium, also on Sunday afternoon.

GOLD COAST   2.4   4.8   4.16   7.19 (61) 
FREMANTLE     2.3   4.5   7.7    8.10 (58)

GOALS
Gold Coast: Sexton 4, Martin, Miller, Swallow
Fremantle: McCarthy 2, Taberner 2, Colyer 2, Lobb, Walters 

BEST 
Gold Coast: Harbrow, Martin, Sexton, Bowes, Swallow, Collins
Fremantle: Hill, Fyfe, Langdon, Taberner, Hogan, Colyer 

INJURIES 
Gold Coast: Horlin-Smith (back) replaced in selected side by Joyce
Fremantle: Nil 

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Ryan, O'Gorman, Brown

Official crowd: 10,119 at Metricon Stadium