A crowd of 32,942 had to watch in horror as the Suns came from 35 points down at three-quarter time to hit the front with minutes left.
But Jeremy McGovern's third goal nudged the home side back in front and then he drifted into defence to take a key contested mark to see the Eagles claim just their second win from the past nine matches, 15.13 (103) to 15.10 (100).
The victory leaves West Coast eight points behind eighth-placed Gold Coast on the ladder after 13 rounds.
INJURY UPDATE: Simpson's walking wounded
"I will enjoy my beer tonight," Eagles coach Adam Simpson.
"We have been working really hard and we haven't had results.
And we have been disappointing in stages.
"But the effort for the most part, we think has been there and tonight; we were pretty brave tonight.
"We lost Cox, Glass; Selwood and Shuey miss before the game. We lost Yeo with a broken hand and Butler broke his finger at the start of the final quarter and was out of action for about 20 minutes.
"We knew they were going to come at us and to respond was really pleasing, but what was disappointing was that 20-minute period when they kicked six goals."
THRILLER: Watch the last two minutes
Suns coach Guy McKenna said his team needed to do more than just play well in one quarter of football.
"We just have to play longer than 30 minutes like that," McKenna said.
"We had 14 scoring shots to three-quarter time and 11 in the last. That certainly explains the game pretty simply."
Nic Naitanui was simply sublime in his 100th game, gathering 22 disposals (16 contested), 34 hit-outs and six clearances in a best on ground display.
Josh Kennedy starred up forward as stand-in captain, kicking seven goals. His last came seven minutes into the third quarter when the Eagles opened up a game-high lead of 39 points.
SEVENTH HEAVEN: Captain Kennedy boots a bag
Just as the home team looked set for an easy win, the Suns' midfield kicked into gear led by Gary Ablett and Dion Prestia.
Ablett was well held in the first half by the unlikely tag of Sharrod Wellingham but his second half was enormous. He had 33 disposals and 11 clearances while Prestia was magnificent all afternoon, gathering 38 touches.
The Suns’ rally in the final term was stunning. It started with a superb finish on the run from Harley Bennell after he missed from the opposite pocket moments earlier. Then the Suns walked the ball out of the centre square for the first time all day. Jarrod Harbrow, Michael Rischitelli, Prestia and Jaeger O'Meara all kicked goals as stunned Eagles coach Adam Simpson watched on helplessly from the boundary line.
When Tom Lynch took a big mark and converted his third goal at the 19-minute mark to take the lead, the Eagles looked finished.
But McGovern squeezed through his third from the goalsquare to reclaim the lead.
MATCH-WINNER: McGovern saves the day
However, there was still some drama remaining.
Gold Coast almost pinched it again through the genius of Ablett. He waltzed past an opponent hard against the boundary line in the forward pocket but his right-foot checkside kick cannoned into the post.
The Eagles somehow clung on for just their fifth win of the year to keep any faint finals hopes alive.
The Suns have now lost three straight and their finals credentials are on shaky ground.
WEST COAST 4.3 9.7 14.10 15.13 (103)
GOLD COAST 3.3 6.4 9.5 15.10 (100)
GOALS
West Coast: Kennedy 7, McGovern 3, LeCras, Cripps, Hutchings, Lycett, Wellingham
Gold Coast: Dixon 3, Lynch 3, Matera 2, Rischitelli 2, Hall, Bennell, Harbrow, Prestia, O'Meara
BEST
West Coast: Naitanui, Kennedy, Priddis, McGovern, Hurn, Hutchings, Wellingham
Gold Coast: Presita, Ablett, Swallow, May, Bennell, McKenzie, Lynch, Shaw
INJURIES
West Coast: Shuey (ankle) replaced in selected side by Butler; Yeo (broken hand); Butler (broken finger).
Gold Coast: Nil
SUBSTITUTES
West Coast: Sam Butler replaced Elliot Yeo in the third quarter
Gold Coast: Alex Sexton replaced Aaron Hall at three-quarter time
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Donlon, Leppard, Dalgleish
Official crowd: 32,942 at Patersons Stadium
