Port Adelaide has retained its perfect 2-0 record at Jiangwan Stadium, emerging victorious by 40 points over Gold Coast in what was the second ever clash for premiership points in China.
The Suns managed to surpass their woeful 4.14 from last year's inaugural clash despite the wet conditions, yet still failed to truly challenge the Power after half-time, scoring just the one goal.
Travis Boak pieced together a true captain's performance, ending his Oriental expedition with 29 touches, eight clearances and the Shanghai Medal, while fellow midfield bulls Ollie Wines, Sam-Powell Pepper and Tom Rockliff finished with 26 disposals apiece.
Gold Coast were led by Jarrod Witts (43 hit-outs), who went toe-to-toe with All-Australian ruckman Paddy Ryder and edged him out by one hit-out, in turn affording Jarrod Harbrow 27 touches.
The persistent showers throughout the course of the day failed to bring a low-scoring quarter, with a combined nine goals opening the match the ideal way to showcase the game of AFL to the rest of the world.
Late replacement for Jack Martin, Matt Rosa, made his impact straight away after threading through a precise major from the right pocket to put the Suns on the board first.
It would however be the only time Gold Coast took the lead, as some zippy footwork from Chad Wingard levelled the scores just minutes later before Port kicked away.
The Power made it three in a row after Sam Gray and Tom Rockliff made their way onto the scoresheet, the latter's being set up directly by another piece of Wingard flair.
As debutant Jacob Heron became part of a very exclusive club of players to make their debut outside of Australia, he soon joined another after putting through his maiden major with his first kick.
Goals to Boak and Charlie Dixon closed out the Power's term, while another pair from Witts and Lachie Weller brought the margin to just nine points at quarter-time.
But the scoring near evaporated in the second term, with the Suns and Power scoring just one goal apiece as the game descended into a highly-congested and scrappy slog.
Much-needed goals aside, it was once again Wingard who provided the highlight of the term with a no-look backwards handball to Dixon on the wing amazing the 10,000 strong crowd.
Yet the skills from both teams plummeted in the wet thereafter, with four behinds in 16 minutes getting the sluggish second term underway as the onlookers - both local and abroad - began to long for the excitement of the first.
If the locals were puzzled already about the rules of the game, the next decision left them - and the travelling die-hards - totally confused after Riley Bonner was pinged for deliberately rushing the ball over the line, despite having Jack Bowes hot on his tail.
Upon replay however, Bonner was just outside the protected zone and the correct decision was made.
The free kick nonetheless put a major score on the board, but it would be another 13-minute dry spell before Wines restored Port Adelaide's buffer with one of his own, extending the lead to 13 points at half-time.
Scoring barely improved in the third term, with the Power outscoring the Suns two goals to one, yet the visitors were wasteful in front of goal and blew several opportunities, ending their term with four behinds.
Wingard found himself back in the action with a strong contested mark and goal, while Jack Watts was favoured by a fortunate bounce to gift the Power their second major of the third.
In what was fast becoming a disaster for the Suns, Touk Miller managed to squeeze a final major through in the last minute of the quarter, placing them 20 points down at three-quarter time.
It only got worse for Gold Coast, who were kept goalless for the last quarter while the Power kicked 3.2 - all of which were the direct result on turnovers from the Suns.
Sam Powell-Pepper, after a fiery day with Ben Ainsworth, pounced on the panicked Gold Coast defence and kicked true to extend the margin to 26 points.
As Sam Gray continued to pile on the pain with a second major, the Power continued to flood their forward line with repeated inside 50s, finishing the game with a whopping 73 entries opposed to the Gold Coast's 48.
But the best was saved for last, with Powell-Pepper bookending the term with a remarkable major to give the crowd one last burst of excitement.
After bumping into the boundary umpire and going over to apologise, Powell-Pepper's manners were rewarded after the ball was immediately fired back into the forward 50.
All but forgotten by the Suns' defence, the Port forward sped toward the tumbling footy, putting through the final major with a goal while lying on his back as the Gold Coast backmen began to swarm.
With the siren ringing just minutes later and the final margin resting at 40 points, the Power notched up their sixth win of the season to further solidify their position in the top-eight.
Both sides will have their premature bye next week, before heading into intriguing clashes to kick off Saturday's Sir Doug Nicholls Round matches.
After nine weeks on the road, Gold Coast will finally be back home at Metricon Stadium to face Geelong - and more importantly, Gary Ablett - while Port Adelaide will face off against Hawthorn at University of Tasmania Stadium.
GOLD COAST 4.2 5.3 6.6 6.6 (42) PORT ADELAIDE 5.5 6.10 8.14 11.16 (82)
GOALS Gold Coast: Rosa, Heron, Witts, Weller, Bowes, Miller Port Adelaide: Powell-Pepper 2, Wingard 2, S.Gray 2, Rockliff, Boak, Dixon, Wines, Watts
BEST Gold Coast Suns: Witts, Harbrow, May, Hall, Miller Port Adelaide: Boak, Powell-Pepper, Rockliff, Wines, Byrne-Jones
INJURIES Gold Coast Suns: Jack Martin (illness) replaced by Matt Rosa before the game, Matt Rosa (hamstring) Port Adelaide: Nil
TALKING POINTS
1. WILL THE SUNS STAY?
It's been two trips to China for the Gold Coast, but so far the Suns have done little to impress in what is meant to be one of the AFL's most marketable games.
Scoring 4.14 in last year's inaugural China clash, the Suns looked on track to rectify their performance with a 4.2 opening term, yet only scored a further 2.4 for the rest of the game.
Granted, any trip overseas is a daunting task for any team, yet perhaps a side with more experience and a more seasoned list would be better suited to the international trip.
While the wet conditions resulted in a scrappy affair and inaccurate shots on goal, the Power nonetheless have performed well, with David Koch's brainchild alive for another year.
2. powell-pepper puts on a show IN THE DYING MOMENTS
In a game which was generally lacking of many highlights, Sam Powell-Pepper showcased what the sport of AFL brings to the crowd of 10,689.
Umpire contact has been on the radar for the past few weeks, and after the Port forward had a run-in with the boundary umpire, he quickly made amends and went over to apologise once the ball had been cleared.
Once it was all clear there was no ill-will however, the ball quickly cannoned back into the forward 50, with Powell-Pepper - who had completely escaped the minds of the Suns' defenders - given free run at the ball.
As the Suns closed in, Powell-Pepper slipped in the wet before miraculously kicking the ball over his head for the final goal of the game.
Just goes to show manners don't go unrewarded.
3. WITTS AN UNDERRATED GEM FOR THE SUNS
While Jarrod Harbrow was the most prolific ball-winner of the Suns with 27 touches, it was Jarrod Witts who was undoubtedly best afield for the Suns.
Finishing with a game-high 43 hit-outs, 22 touches and 12 clearances, the young Witts outshone his opponent in Paddy Ryder, edging out the All-Australian in all areas.
Now as Gold Coast's number one ruckman, Witts' importance to the young side has been nothing short of vital. with an average of 34.8 hit-outs per game to give his mids the first chance at the ball.
Like all ruckmen, Witts will only get better with age.
4. HERON JOINS THE CLUB
While numerous players can boast they kicked a goal with their first kick at AFL level, few can say they have made their debut outside of Australia.
18-year-old Jacob Heron became the first ever player to debut in China, but also the second-youngest Sun of all-time and the youngest to play a game for premiership points overseas.
Heron finished with 10 disposals and put together a sound first game away from home.
Now there's a trivia titbit for you.
5. WINGARD WONDERS WITH BACKWARDS HANDBALL
It was brief, and if you blinked you would have missed it.
But Chad Wingard's dynamic ball skills were on full display in the downpour, with a skilful over the head, backwards handball leaving the crowd in awe.
Wingard's been well-documented for his flair and captivating ball use, and this was just one trick in his wide arsenal of disposal weaponry.
Finishing with two goals and 16 diposlas - albeit with a disposal efficiency of 44 per cent - the Power dynamo was still an important player in Port Adelaide's win.
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