Gold Coast have equalled their best start to an AFL season, clinging on for a one-point win in a dramatic finish to spoil Adelaide's unbeaten run.
The Suns prevailed 13.13 (91) to 14.6 (90) at home on Saturday, with former Sun Izak Rankine controversially denied a mark in the pocket with 90 seconds to play.
Two free kicks to the Suns followed before they again repelled the surging Crows, with Mac Andrew and five-goal Crows star Riley Thilthorpe in a heated exchange after the final siren.
Taylor Walker also booted four goals for the Crows, who hadn't lost a quarter in their three wins prior to Saturday.
The Suns started hot in a see-sawing contest, twice edging 18 points clear before the Crows surged in the second half.
Rankine (21 disposals, 10 clearances) was everywhere for the visitors while recruit Daniel Rioli played his best game for the Suns.
Jordan Dawson had 31 disposals for the Crows while James Peatling (24) did well to restrict the influence of in-form Suns star Matt Rowell (17 touches).
Jed Walter kicked three goals for the Suns while fellow talls Ben King, Ben Long and Will Graham had two each.
It's just the second time the Suns have won their first three games of the season, this win coming under pressure in contrast to two lop-sided victories.
They started the sweaty midday fixture hot, Rowell busting out of traffic and hitting the post before King and Ethan Reed both marked and goaled from close-range.
Darcy Fogarty did the same at the other end while Thilthorpe kept chipping away and was finally rewarded with a goal after the siren.
Mac Andrew came within a coat of paint of an audacious long-range effort, from outside 60m off two steps, that hit high up on the goal post.
Walter snapped from the pocket to steady the Suns but Thilthorpe had the instant reply.
Rowell was well held but still found a way to impact, wobbling a left-footed kick to Bailey Humphrey, who kicked straight and help get the Suns within one point at halftime.
The hosts again burst out of the blocks, Graham and Long's goals coming from stoic defence from Andrew and Bodhi Uland.
They were 18 points clear when Touk Miller scored but again the Crows rallied, finding joy on the counter attack and space in the forward line.
Gold Coast looked to have killed off the Crows when they kicked three goals clear again until John Noble's unforced error in the centre of the ground led to Walker kicking his 650th AFL goal from the turnover.
Thilthorpe then out-wrestled Sam Collins and kicked his fourth goal to make it a six-point margin.
A chaotic sequence finished with Will Graham running into an open goal but Walker slotted his fourth to ensure the contest went down to the wire.
The Crows willed the ball forward, Jake Soligo with exquisite skill to find his man and Thilthorpe's fifth coming when the ball's bounce left Collins grasping.
Rankine thought he'd created a chance to be the hero. But his pleas went unanswered and the Suns ran the clock down.