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.
Jarryd 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.
Surprisingly for the Suns, they led the tackle count 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)
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
You'd think a team like the Suns are always going to get more out of these sorts of games than a team at a more tertiary stage of development like the Cats. But still, it would be just the sort of confidence booster the Suns need in the lead up to a testing start to the season, especially with such a resounding victory. Let's hope this is a sign of the substantial gelling of their playing talent.
Macca
Guest
Good to see Holman do well, felt he didn't really get a chance at the blues and was let go a little prematurely
Doctor Rotcod
Guest
No need for the Cats to be concerned. It was in the heat,they had to travel ,they were missing top players,the Suns had a lot to prove to their fans,they won the possession count anyway and the ground was the wrong shape, oh and it's only the pre-season which no-one cares a rat's about unless you win,in which case you find the highest dunghill to crow from