Australian Football

Match Report

Geelong has recorded a massive win over Gold Coast, thrashing the Suns to the tune of 120 points at Kardinia Park on Saturday night. The Cats were only a point clear halfway through the first term, and it looked like the Suns had 'come to play'. By quarter time, however, Geelong had jumped to a 14-point lead and the Cats would go on to dominate Gold Coast in all departments over the next three terms to win by 20 goals.

While the Suns were undermanned as a result of a lengthy injury list, the performance of his charges would have been abjectly unacceptable to coach Rodney Eade. The Suns had started the season with a bang, winning their first three matches of 2016. But an unexpected round four loss to Brisbane has been followed by a 38-point defeat to top side North Melbourne, and now Saturday night's thrashing, leaving the Suns with a 3-3 record and in danger of losing touch with the top eight.

The night didn't start too badly for Gold Coast and, after an early goal to Geelong's Nakia Cockatoo, a major to Tom Lynch had the Suns within a point after three minutes. Geelong's Mitch Duncan kicked Geelong's second but Lynch's own second goal had the Suns back within one after 14 minutes. The Cats began to get going soon after, though, and goals to Steven Motlop and Shane Kersten had them out to a 14-point lead early in time on. Each side added another goal after that and it was Geelong by 14 at the first break.

Gold Coast looked like keeping pace with the Cats after a goal to Daniel Menzel was answered by Sun Alex Sexton, but the Geelong machine clicked into gear after that, and consecutive goals to Motlop, Cockatoo, Nathan Vardy, Tom Hawkins and Shane Kersten had the Cats suddenly ahead by 27 points. Sexton's second goal stopped the rot, but only very briefly and the Cats were 41 points clear at the half, with worse to follow.

Jarrod Harrow sparked brief thoughts of a revival within two minutes of the second half starting, but the Suns would not trouble the scorers again until well into final quarter. The Cats, in the interim, piled on seven goals straight to take an 83-point lead into the final term, and then score another three majors before Sean Lemons finally broke Gold Coast's scoring drought with a goal at the 11-minute mark. By that stage, the Cats led by 97 points, and four further goals to Josh Caddy (2), Patrick Dangerfield and Kersten saw the final difference blow out to 120 points.

The Cats had winners everywhere but Dangerfield in particular (30 touches, six marks) was outstanding. Gold Coast by contrast did not have many players who could hold their heads high but Gary Ablett (26 disposals, five tackles) was a fine contributor.

With that win Geelong moves up to second on the ladder, with five wins from six games and a huge percentage of 174,7. The Cats will host West Coast at Kardinia Park next Saturday afternoon. The Suns, meanwhile, will try to arrest their slide when they take on Melbourne at Carrara on Saturday evening.

GOALS
Geelong: Hawkins, Kersten 4; Motlop, Cockatoo 3; Lang, Caddy, Dangerfield 2; Duncan, Menzel, Vardy, Smith, Selwood
Gold Coast: Lynch, Sexton 2; Cameron, Harbrow, Lemmens

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
Geelong: Dangerfield, Hawkins, Motlop, Guthrie, Selwood, Caddy, Duncan, Bartel
Gold Coast: K Kolodjashnij, Prestia, Ablett, Sexton

BEST THEAGE.COM.AU
Geelong: Dangerfield, Selwood, Caddy, Hawkins, Motlop, Bartel, Menzel, Kersten
Gold Coast:- Ablett, Hall, Currie, Prestia

INJURIES
Geelong: McCarthy (head), Guthrie (hip)
Gold Coast: McKenzie (left ankle), Day (back)

UMPIRES: Stevic, Kamolins, Hay

TELEVISION BROADCAST: Seven Network

COMMENTATORS: Brian Taylor, Luke Darcy, Matthew Richardson, Cameron Ling