Just when coach Guy McKenna's ability was being questioned, captain Gary Ablett's commitment to the cause criticised and the team's short-term future debated, the Gold Coast Suns produced a performance for the ages today to deliver the club's first win.

And a memorable triumph it was. Down by five goals at three-quarter time to Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium, the Suns stormed home to boot six goals (to one) in the final term and sneak over the line by three points. A Justin Westhoff set shot at goal from 48 metres out after the siren, with eight Suns players waving their arms behind the man on the mark, slewed wide and that was the end of the Port challenge - and the beginning of rapturous Gold Coast celebration.

So after defeats of 119, 70 and 90 points in their first three outings, the Suns somehow managed to defy the form book, the odds-makers - they were listed at $10 to win, against Port's $1.03 - the newspaper pundits and perhaps their own nagging doubts to produce an almost miraculous form reversal.

Ablett put behind him a week of controversy to inspire the last-quarter comeback, David Swallow, the Suns' No.1 draftee, showed that he was a Brownlow Medallist in the making, Brandon Matera could well become the second-best Matera to play AFL, Charlie Dixon hauled in some big marks and kicked crucial goals, Trent McKenzie was a standout on the wing and Michael Rischitelli showed great composure throughout to be among the best afield.   

The shock defeat is the sort of result that could get be a career-ender for Port coach, Matthew Primus. If former Richmond powerbroker, and henchman, Graeme Richmond was in charge at Alberton, there'd be serious recriminations and bloodletting this week.

No club wanted to be the first to lose to the Suns, a cobbled-together team of highly credentialled teenagers mixed with a grab-bag of semi-experienced AFL players plus, of course, a rugby league convert. But now Port, in front of their home fans, have the unhappy distinction of being the fledgling side's first home-and-away victim. 

What was especially worrying for Port supporters, and coaches, is that they kicked five goals in the third quarter to lead by 40 points at the 28-minute mark, which surely had to be an impregnable position against such callow opposition.

But they relaxed, began to showboat and then, when they became aware of the danger presented by the Suns, it was all too late. They choked badly when put under pressure.

Primus threw numbers back behind the ball when Dixon, Matera, Harley Bennell then Matera again slammed on four quick goals, but the defensive flood had no effect. The Suns were rising.

A week after beating Adelaide in Showdown XXX, Port was lamentable - and the performance prompted Primus to issue an apology to fans after the game.   

As for the Suns, some pundits were talking about a winless debut season in the big time. And, it must be said, there were grounds for scepticism given their woeful start to the year. So this result came from nowhere.

And, apart from the Gold Coast dressing room tonight, nowhere will the cheers be louder for McKenna's side than at AFL headquarters.

For the Commission have embarked on a bold expansion plan into southern Queensland and western Sydney, and that plan would have started to look decidely wobbly if Gold Coast FC had taken two or three seasons to find its feet. Some early on-field success was crucial to the club's - and league's - chances of winning over new converts.      

So mark it down in the diary: April 23, 2011. The day that the AFL's newest club came of age, and the code secured a small foothold in south-eastern Queensland.