The Geelong Cats have demolished the Gold Coast Suns by 85 points at Metricon Stadium on Saturday evening.
Final score
Gold Coast Suns 4.12.36
Geelong Cats 17.19.121
The Gold Coast Suns are finally home at Metricon Stadium this Saturday, hosting former teammate Gary Ablett and the Geelong Cats. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match from 4:35pm AEST.
The Suns have enjoyed a well-needed week off thanks to an early bye following their game against the Power in Shanghai.
Gold Coast return to their official home of Metricon Stadium this round after its transformation for the Commonwealth Games, mentally this will be a huge boost for them.
Meanwhile, Geelong are coming off a win, beating the struggling Carlton Blues by 28 points last Saturday night.
It was a battle for the Cats, but they kicked away in the last quarter to secure their sixth win of the season.
Young forward-ruckman, Esava Ratugolea, looked to be fitting in nicely with Tom Hawkins in the forward line, but a broken ankle against the Blues will see him likely miss the season.
In team news, the Suns have made five changes after their loss to the Power.
Tall forward Tom Lynch headlines the returning players, with Will Brodie, Sam Day, Jesse Joyce and Jack Martin the others coming in.
Matt Rosa is out with injury, while Jarryd Lyons, Jack Leslie, Brad Scheer and Brayden Crossley have all been omitted.
In the Geelong camp, Wylie Buzza, Lachie Fogarty and Lincoln McCarthy have been added to the forward line.
It is small forward McCarthy’s first AFL game since round three last year, only returning from injuries through the VFL in the last month.
Stewart Crameri, Cory Gregson and Esava Ratugolea are the outs for the Cats.
The last time these two teams played was in round seven last year, where the Suns were 25 point victors.
Prediction
The Suns’ big inclusions for this match will boost their team on paper, but then if we’re looking at paper the Cats’ midfield should be more dominant in the centre.
Ablett’s return to the Gold Coast is a major talking point, and while Gold Coast will challenge them, Geelong should take the win.
Geelong by 26.
Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match from 4:35pm AEST.
Paul D
Roar Guru
God I had hoped the suns would win this. Just deplorable and awful First game at Metricon this year and they served up that. Absolutely cancerous stuff
Austin Jones
Roar Rookie
well it looks like the Cats certainly made up for the dismal performance the last time they played the Gold Coast. Good god did the GC even turn up to the game ????
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
Cats demolish ‘disgraceful’ Suns The Geelong Cats have demolished the Gold Coast Suns by 85 points at Metricon Stadium on Saturday evening. After an even first quarter the Cats found their mojo and the Suns fell away, struggling to find and keep possession. Gold Coast kicked just one behind in the second quarter, while the Cats piled on seven goals and six behinds. It was a training run for Geelong, but an opportunity for all their players to find some form. Cats' fans would be excited by the combination of their elite midfielders, who put together their best collective performance of the year. At half-time Suns’ coach Stuart Dew called their second quarter performance “disgraceful” and that it was. Gold Coast’s effort was improved after half time, but their intent to close the gap was rued with inaccuracy in front of goals. They were lucky the Cats were just as inaccurate, or it may well have been 100 point-plus deficit. Gary Ablett gathered 37 disposals and kicked three goals against his former side, putting on a show for the Suns fans who gave him quite the “booing” reception for his first few disposals. His fellow midfielders Joel Selwood (33 disposals, 1 goal), Mitch Duncan (32 disposals, 1 goal) and Patrick Dangerfield (28 disposals, 1 goal) also dominated. Touk Miller (27 disposals, 1 goal) was best for the Suns, and Jarrod Witts (47 hit outs) impressed, wining the ruck battle for Gold Coast. The Suns night got worse, they suffered three injuries including Aaron Hall (shoulder), Aaron Young (ankle) and Steven May (ankle). Next up the Suns head to Spotless Stadium to face the GWS Giants, while Geelong are back home at GMHBA Stadium against North Melbourne. Final Score Gold Coast 4.12 (36) Geelong 17.19 (121)
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
Thanks for tuning in to tonights match. I'll post a match report soon. Tune in tomorrow for my call from the Adelaide Crows v GWS Giants clash at Adelaide Oval.
Cat
Roar Guru
Don’t worry I love seeing Freo lose, so we’re even ;)
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
It was a solid win for Geelong! Thanks for tuning in.
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
The Geelong Cats have demolished the Gold Coast Suns by 85 points at Metricon Stadium on Saturday evening. Gary Ablett starred with 37 disposals and 3 goals, Tom Hawkins also managed three, while Selwood, Duncan, Menegola and Dangerfield also found plenty of the ball. The Suns night was made worse with injury concerns for Hall (shoulder), Young (ankle - iced) and May (ankle - rolled late). Final Score Gold Coast 4.12 36 Geelong 17.19 121
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
This has been a bigger disappointment than .... oh, I dunno. It's just a big disappointment. God I don't like it when the Cats win. And yeah I'm pretty unapologetic in saying that.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
Good job boys. Thanks for the call, Sarah.
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
FULL TIME On the siren Hawkins takes a chest mark on the goal line. The set shot has to be taken without playing on though, meaning his normal snap is not an option. Tries the check side, it's no good and across the face. Gold Coast 36 Geelong 121
Cat
Roar Guru
3 votes: G Ablett Keep doubting him. I love it.
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
Q4 3' - BEHIND CATS Geelong go through the corridor and Menegola drills a pass through to Hawkins. Set shot can only manage a behind though. Gold Coast 36 Geelong 121
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
Q4 4' Strapping coming off May's ankle, he'll stay on the bench for the last few minutes. Gold Coast 36 Geelong 120
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
Q4 5' Suns injury: May down now with a rolled ankle. Bad roll of the right ankle after stepping on a Geelong player's foot. Gold Coast 36 Geelong 120
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
Q4 7' - GOAL CATS Parfitt dodged a couple on the goal line, but got caught and handballed in to the top of the goal square. Menegola picked the ball up and snapped his second. Gold Coast 36 Geelong 120
Cat
Roar Guru
Queue the circus music
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
Q4 8' - BEHIND CATS Cunico with a second behind for the night. Plenty of opportunities for the Cats tonight, could have blown this out even further... (Suns lucky they've been so inaccurate). Gold Coast 36 Geelong 114
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
Q4 9' - BEHIND CATS Chest mark by Buzza, but he hits the post with his shot on goal. A quiet night with only 5 disposals and 1 shot on goal, but it'll take him a little bit of time to find his feet in the AFL again. Only his first game for the year, needs to fill the hole left by Ratugolea. Gold Coast 36 Geelong 113
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
Q4 11' - BEHIND SUNS Ballard joins the behind tally for the Suns tonight. Gold Coast 36 Geelong 112
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
Q4 12' Lynch gets up gingerly after a contest with Blicavs. Good to see him back, but the knee has been tested tonight - he'll be sore tomorrow. Gold Coast 35 Geelong 112