Zak Jones has impressed in his return to competitive football alongside rookie ruckman Max Heath, with the workhorse pair knuckling down to steer Sandringham to an exhausting eight-point win against Gold Coast.

Jones operated consistently – and tirelessly – across all four quarters, amassing 27 disposals, nine clearances and six inside-50s amid a game which initially looked set to be a one-way affair before turning into a hard-fought, high-scoring grind after quarter-time. 

The 27-year-old's strength in the contest drove the engine room alongside Jack Bytel (24 disposals, seven clearances), Mitch Owens (25 disposals, five clearances) and Nick Hodgson (19 disposals, seven tackles), but it was Heath who lifted when his side needed him most.

The big man – operating as the No. 1 ruck in the absence of Tom Campbell (AFL emergency) – stepped up to the plate with a leading 28 hit-outs, 16 touches and three second-half goals to help deliver Sandringham a 16.13 (109) to 15.11 (101) victory in stifling conditions.

Heath took a crucial contested mark to extend Sandringham’s narrow lead midway through the final term, before he and the Zebras weathered through the Suns’ last roll of the dice.

Sandringham looked set to cruise to its second win of the season with a proficient seven-goal opening term – three of which came from key forward Chris Carey – from just 15 entries, which also came complete with almost double the amount of possessions than Gold Coast (115-67).

The Suns quickly cut the early deficit through their own cleanliness going into attack, nailing home four straight goals either side of quarter-time to force an arm wrestle with the Zebras for the remainder of the game.

It was a day where the tall timber had the biggest say on the contest. Chris Burgess led the Suns' assault with a game-high six majors, Ned Moyle pulled down 37 hit-outs in his gruelling slog against Heath, while on-baller Jeremy Sharp was a clear best with 39 disposals, eight clearances and two goals at the final siren.

Gold Coast consistently challenged Sandringham keeping Leo Connolly (21 disposals, five rebound-50s) and Tyson Milne (21 disposals, six rebound-50s) busy off half-back, even edging ahead by a point in the fourth term to almost clinch the four points.

But whenever the Suns' press looked like overwhelming the home side, the Zebras responded either by establishing small but significant buffers or by digging in to resist the opposition pressure. A timely intervention on the scoreboard from Dean Kent, Heath and then Oliver Lowe (three goals) proved decisive late, with the Suns falling just short in its gutsy display.

Defender Darragh Joyce was assisted from the field in the third term with a yet-to-be-determined injury, Matthew Allison had 15 disposals and a goal working along the wing, while Oscar Adams finished his second game with nine touches and five marks.

SANDRINGHAM  7.4  9.8  13.8  16.13 (109)
GOLD COAST  4.1  9.4  11.8  15.11 (101)

GOALS
Sandringham: Heath 3, Carey 3, Lowe 3, Watson 2, Allison, Bytel, Hipwell, Kent, Lok
Gold Coast: Burgess 6, Hollands 2, Day 2, Sharp 2, Bella, Macpherson, Sexton

BEST
Sandringham: Heath, Bytel, Jones, Watson, Owens, Hodgson, Connolly, Milne  
Gold Coast: Sharp, Burgess, Flanders, Budarick, Macpherson, Hollands