The Eagles will host reigning premier Collingwood at Patersons Stadium in the second NAB Cup semi-final after accounting for the Suns 0.12.15 (87) to 1.5.11 (50) in the stifling Perth heat.
The Suns may have lost but they were far from disgraced and will take great confidence from their form on the road. A near full-strength West Coast found the visitors hard to shake, and only 11 points separated the teams early in the final term.
However, the Eagles - who rested captain Darren Glass and veteran Andrew Embley - kicked the last four goals of the contest to ensure a comfortable passage through to the semi-final.
Midfielders Scott Selwood (20 possessions) and Bradd Dalziell (23) were impressive throughout, while highly-rated on-baller Luke Shuey won 14 useful possessions before being substituted at half time in his first pre-season match.
Ruckman Dean Cox continued his stellar pre-season, often lining up in the centre-square alongside Nic Naitanui; and Mitch Brown was excellent down back.
For Gold Coast, young South Australian defender Seb Tape stood out with 20 possessions, while Michael Rischitelli captained the side and finished with 19 possessions and six inside 50s.
Young back-up ruckman Daniel Gorringe competed admirably against the Eagles strong ruck combination, and ball-magnets Dion Prestia and David Swallow worked their way into the game.
The Eagles, with early goals to spearheads Josh Kennedy and Mark LeCras, made an authoritative start and looked like steamrolling the Suns, who were missing the majority of their senior players.
But the visitors slowed the tempo in the 34 degree heat, started winning their share of the ball through Rischitelli and Prestia, and even took the lead briefly in the second quarter.
The Eagles made their move halfway through the second term, with Cox pushing forward to kick his second goal, a lively Ashton Hams creating plenty of opportunities and Brad Ebert sending the home side into the main break with a 16-point lead.
Despite winning plenty of the ball in the second half, the Suns lacked a forward target and managed just two second-half goals to West Coast's eight.
With senior players Gary Ablett, Nathan Bock, Jared Brennan, Campbell Brown, Josh Fraser and Daniel Harris all missing, there is plenty of up side for the Suns as they head into the NAB Challenge.
West Coast last appeared in a NAB Cup Grand Final in 2005 where it was defeated by Carlton.
West Coast 0.3.6 0.6.9 0.8.12 0.12.15 (87)
Gold Coast 1.1.1 1.3.2 1.4.7 1.5.11 (50)
GOALS
West Coast: Nine-point goals (Nil): Goals: Cox 2, Ebert 2, Kennedy 2, Gaff, Hams, LeCras, Naitanui, Rosa, Wilson
Gold Coast: Nine-point goals (Nil): Thompson Goals: Bennell 2, McKenzie 2, Matera
BEST
West Coast: Scott Selwood, Cox, Brown, Hams, Shuey, Dalziell
Gold Coast: Rischitelli, Tape, Prestia, Swallow, Matera, Coad
INJURIES
West Coast: Eric Mackenzie replaced in selected side by Brett Jones
Gold Coast: Nil
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Margetts, Keating, Dalgleish
Official crowd: 12,625 at Patersons Stadium
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL
