Gold Coast made hard work of it, but snuck past Essendon by three points in Mackay on Sunday, with draftees Ben Ainsworth and Will Brodie having major impacts.
Ainsworth is almost a lock for round one and showed why he was taken with the fourth pick in last year's draft, kicking two goals and giving off another.
Brodie, the No.9 pick, also kicked two goals to go with his 18 disposals.
The Suns trailed by seven points midway through the final term, but kicked three straight goals to hit the lead before hanging on 12.7 (79) to 12.4 (76) at Harrup Park.
While the Bombers lost their second straight JLT Community Series contest, there was plenty to be excited about, with first-gamer Josh Begley kicking four goals.
The No.31 pick was outstanding, kicking two goals in the first quarter, one in the second and one in the third in a performance that will surely push his name forward for an opening round selection.
He was just as comfortable with the ball on the ground as he was with it in the air and added real spark to the Bombers' forward line.
Jobe Watson continued to dust off the rust of 12 months out of the game, finishing with 24 disposals, while youngster Jayden Laverde was also a standout with three goals.
The Suns deserved their win after conceding the game's first four goals.
They led the disposals 407-350, clearances 36-26 and most tellingly the inside 50s by 59-40.
Michael Barlow (31 disposals, 13 contested) was prolific, while Alex Sexton (25 and two goals) was terrific in his first game of the season for the victors.
GOLD COAST 4.1 7.4 9.6 12.7 (79)
ESSENDON 4.2 6.2 9.2 12.4 (76)
SUPERGOALS
Gold Coast: Nil
Essendon: Nil
GOALS
Gold Coast: Ainsworth 2, Brodie 2, Sexton 2, Wright, Matera, Martin, Macpherson, Currie, Lonergan
Essendon: Begley 4, Laverde 3, McDonald-Tipungwuti, Stewart, Green, Langford, Parish
BEST
Gold Coast: Sexton, May, Martin, Hanley, Ainsworth, Barlow
Essendon: Stanton, Hurley, Gleeson, Begley, Langford, Parish
INJURIES
Gold Coast: Nil
Essendon: Hurley (ankle)
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Nicholls, Deboy, Chamberlain, Fisher
Official crowd: TBC at Harrup Park Country Club (Mackay)
