Gold Coast have gotten the Stuart Dew era off to a good start on Sunday with a 56-point win over Geelong in Townsville.
» Click here to read the full match report
Final score
Gold Coast Suns: 12.13 (85)
Geelong Cats: 3.11 (29)
The Gold Coast Suns host the Geelong Cats at Riverway Stadium in Townsville in the second week of the JLT Community Series. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, starting from 4:35pm (AEDT).
Both sides will be looking at their first hitout since AFLX a couple of weeks ago, with mostly sunny conditions forecast with 30 degrees making the Queensland heat a factor in match practice.
Both teams have named sides to play it safe before another hitout next week with Michael Barlow, Steven May, David Swallow, Peter Wright all missing from the Gold Coast squad. Geelong have left senior players including Patrick Dangerfield, Gary Ablett, Joel Selwood, Scott Selwood and Harry Taylor out of their side.
While both teams are looking for match practice, it’s a good opportunity for Stuart Dew to have a look at Lachie Weller in new club colours since coming across from Fremantle. After the Suns paid an arguably high price for the recruit, he will have a point to prove, along with Sam Day in his first return from injury this time last year. Club captain Tom Lynch has also been named and should look to quiet critics of his contract stalemate.
Geelong coach Chris Scott will unleash mature-aged recruit Tim Kelly in for another match in club colours after impressing in AFLX. More draftees such as Lachlan Fogarty and Charlie Constable have also been named. Some notable inclusions for today’s side include Tom Hawkins, Mitch Duncan, Sam Menegola and Zac Smith in the team.
Townsville locals may feel slightly ripped off they’ll miss out on seeing a host of stars from the Geelong side miss out today, but the match already appeals in evenness of talent across the younger Cats side to match the Suns. Even moreso, they won’t have the chance to boo the former Gold Coast captain Gary Ablett in person — or at least not until Round 11 at Carrara.
The last time these two sides played was in Round 7 last year at Carrara, where the Suns won 18.16.124 o 15.9.99. A lot has changed since then for both sides so it would be unreasonable to think that a similar scoreline will be the result today.
Prediction
The Cats, despite their missing stars will get a win in Townsville. Both teams are still looking at preseason games to see what their younger players can bring to the senior side, but this shouldn’t be too much of a surprising result.
Geelong Cats by 18 points.
Join The Roar for all the action from 4:35pm (AEDT).
Cat
Roar Guru
Many of the players that didn't make the trip playing match simulation in Geelong. Its preseason, just because a player isn't selected for a practice game, doesn't mean they do not still have work to be done.
Cat
Roar Guru
I expect my side will be just fine ... when it actually matters. Today didn’t
User
Roar Rookie
Glad for you cat, if that is the standard you expect top stuff
BigJ
Roar Guru
Fairly disappointing game from most aspects but I have a question. Even though the afl is leaps and bounds ahead of the Nrl for game expansion, teams and general public interest, why was Dangerfield and Gary Ablett jr a no show??? They didn’t have to play but just show up to sign autographs for fans and a public relations opp would be good for the game.
Damien Peck
Roar Guru
The Gold Coast Suns have begun their new direction under rookie coach Stuart Dew in style, with a 56 point win over the Geelong Cats at Riverway Stadium in Townsville in week two of the JLT Series. The Suns looked a whole new team from the outset, getting on the board early with captain Tom Lynch scoring a goal in the first two minutes with a strong breeze. Jarrod Lyons led the way with 22 disposals, while Aaron Hall had 17 disposals and two goals to carry on from outstanding from last year. Rookie-listed Nick Holman was a surprise packet with 15 touches, eight tackles and one goal for the day in his first match for the Suns, having been delisted by Carlton at the end of 2015. The AFL heat policy was applied before the match with an extra 2-minute break between quarters, while both clubs used the shade of the changerooms to gather time away from the heat. With a host of Cats stars out including Gary Ablett, Patrick Dangerfield, the Selwood brothers and Harry Taylor, the captaincy was left to Mitch Duncan with support from Tom Hawkins. Zach Tuohy was busy all day in defence with 24 disposals but unfortunately for Cats fans, there wasn't a lot to like today with only mature-aged recruit Tim Kelly, Charlie Constable and Esava Ratugolea providing sparks for the side in patches. The Cats wasted their disposals throughout the day with an over-possessive style of footy and inaccurate goalkicking. They led the disposal count 349 to 305 and led contested possessions at 136-128. But the run-and-gun style play from the Suns has given a clear new era to life without Gary Ablett. Gold Coast had eight separate goalkickers with Alex Sexton, Brayden Fiorini, Sean Lemmens and Aaron Hall all contributing with two goals each. This was helped by the amount of stoppage clearances were in their favour for the day (26-16). Surprisingly for the Suns, they led the tackle count as well with 75-61 — a clear indication that their game style has changed in the humid and hot conditions. The Suns led categories including 17-15 in free kicks, also leading clearances 33-24, inside 50s 46-41, and tackles 77-62. While the Cats know they have some big inclusions to come, they will face Essendon in Colac on Sunday, while the Suns have a chance to show up their rivals Brisbane in Southport in what could be a thrilling game for two young teams. Final Score: Gold Coast Suns: 12.13 (85) Geelong Cats: 3.11 (29)
Damien Peck
Roar Guru
Full Time The Suns get a big win over the Cats by 56 points today. Look out for the match report coming shortly. Disposals: GCS: Lyons (22), Hall, Miller (17), Hanley (16) GEEL: Tuohy (24), Constable (22), Menegola (21), Guthrie (20). Goals: GCS: Sexton, Fiorini, Lemmens, Hall (2), Lynch, Day, Young, Holman. GEEL: Miers, Menze, Ratugolea. Stats: The Cats wasted their disposals throughout the day with an over-possessive style of footy. They led the disposal count 349 to 305, with contested possessions at 136-128 in Geelong’s way. The Suns led categories including 17-15 in free kicks, also leading clearances 33-24, inside 50s 46-41, and tackles 77-62. Final Score: Gold Coast Suns: 12.13 (85) Geelong Cats: 3.11 (29)
Damien Peck
Roar Guru
Behind 01:00 - Another snap from Brodie as the Suns get what looks like the last score of the day. Gold Coast Suns: 12.13 (85) Geelong Cats: 3.11 (29)
Damien Peck
Roar Guru
Behind 01:30 - Aaron Young gets another behind for the Suns. Gold Coast Suns: 12.12 (84) Geelong Cats: 3.11 (29)
Damien Peck
Roar Guru
03:00 - Both sides pressing but not a lot of scoring in the last few minutes. Gold Coast Suns: 12.11 (83) Geelong Cats: 3.11 (29)
Damien Peck
Roar Guru
Behind 06:15 - A rushed behind for the Suns thanks to Parsons under pressure. Gold Coast Suns: 12.11 (83) Geelong Cats: 3.11 (29)
Damien Peck
Roar Guru
Behind 07:00 - Menzel gets a behind for the Cats as they have only kicked one goal in two-and-a-half quarters. Gold Coast Suns: 12.10 (82) Geelong Cats: 3.11 (29)
Cat
Roar Guru
Almost half the team selected are either first year players or players with less than 10 games. Not worried in the least. The fact you’re trying to make something of this is amusing. Keep it up.
Damien Peck
Roar Guru
Goal 11:32 - Hall gets his second of the day on the run. Great goal 30m out. Gold Coast Suns: 12.10 (82) Geelong Cats: 3.10 (28)
Damien Peck
Roar Guru
12:44 - Jarrod Witts goes forward and grabs an unconvincing mark inside the left forward pocket. Missed everything as it falls short. Gold Coast Suns: 11.10 (76) Geelong Cats: 3.10 (28)
Damien Peck
Roar Guru
Behind 14:20 - James Parsons gets a behind for the Cats. Gold Coast Suns: 11.10 (76) Geelong Cats: 3.10 (28)
Damien Peck
Roar Guru
Sean Lemmens down with an injury. Either cramp or hammy for the Suns forward.
Damien Peck
Roar Guru
Goal 16:42 - Esava Ratugolea gets a goal as the Cats get a breakthrough. Gold Coast Suns: 11.10 (76) Geelong Cats: 3.9 (27)
Damien Peck
Roar Guru
Behind 19:40 - Straight on the board, the Suns get a rushed behind. Gold Coast Suns: 11.10 (76) Geelong Cats: 2.9 (21)
Damien Peck
Roar Guru
Three-Quarter Time 20:00 - The last quarter is underway. Can the Cats restore some pride in the result? Gold Coast Suns: 11.9 (75) Geelong Cats: 2.9 (21)
Damien Peck
Roar Guru
Three-Quarter Time 0:00 – The Suns continue to dominate by 54 points. Disposals: GCS: Lyons (16) Sexton (13), Macpherson, Fiorini, Holman (11) GEEL: Menegola (19), Tuohy (17), Guthrie, Duncan, Constable (16). Goals: GCS: Sexton, Fiorini, Lemmens (2), Lynch, Hall, Day, Young, Holman. GEEL: Miers, Menzel. The Cats lead disposals 264 to 214, with contested possessions at 97-96 in Geelong's way. The Suns are up in the umpire's books with 16-11 free kicks, also leading clearances 23-18, while leading inside 50s 34-31, and tackles 52-41 and now hitouts 23-22. Gold Coast Suns: 11.9 (75) Geelong Cats: 2.9 (21)