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Pre-season form is never the most reliable guide, but the Gold Coast Suns have received an early tick in their quest to crack the AFL finals picture for the first time.
With skipper Gary Ablett among a high-profile list of exclusions, a second-string Suns outfit held on for an encouraging eight-point victory over Geelong at Townsville’s Tony Ireland Stadium on Sunday.
Faces old and new starred with Michael Rischitelli, Harley Bennell, Zac Smith and recruit Mitch Hallahan among the best for Gold Coast in the 0.10.19 (79) to 1.9.8 (71) win.
Hallahan, who was traded from Hawthorn last year, had a team-high 25 possessions while Smith had 28 hitouts as he continues to show promise in his comeback from two injury-wrecked seasons.
The match was on the line in the final term and after back-to-back goals from Mitch Clark in his return to AFL football, it appeared Geelong would take the ascendancy.
But in a welcome show of intent, the Suns were up for the challenge, fought back and grounded out the win despite a dramatic fightback from the Cats, who closed to within seven points in the final minute after a supergoal from Steven Motlop.
It was precisely the start Gold Coast coach Rodney Eade would have wanted in his first official match at the helm – and without the likes of Ablett, Dion Prestia, Jack Martin, Charlie Dixon, Sam Day, Steven May and Rory Thompson at his disposal.
Eade is under pressure to deliver the Suns this year what sacked predecessor Guy McKenna could not – finals football.
The match was played in unrelenting heat with the temperature recorded at 32 degrees just prior to the first bounce – though it would have felt hotter, coupled with Townsville’s summer humidity.
Geelong was held goalless in the second term as the Suns opened up an 18-point lead at halftime.
The Cats, who were minus the likes of captain Joel Selwood, Steve Johnson and Hamish McIntosh, were well served by Jimmy Bartel (26 possessions) and Harry Taylor (22) and came back to take the lead in the last quarter, only to be snuffed out by the Suns.
Clark did well in his first game since leaving Melbourne amidst a battle with depression in 2013, amassing two goals and nine touches in approximately three quarters of football.
Neither side reported any major injuries.
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