Gold Coast has got its season back on track, running away from Geelong in a strong final quarter to win by 25 points at Metricon Stadium on Saturday night.
The SUNS led at each change and overcame a poor night in front of goal to win 18.16 (124) to 15.9 (99).
The SUNS won their third match of the season on the back of a strong midfield performance, but it didn't come easily.
After leading by 22 points early in the fourth quarter, the SUNS had to withstand a Geelong fightback that drew it within five points following a Darcy Lang goal.
But Gold Coast finished full of running to pull away deserved winners, consigning the Cats to their second straight loss.
While Gary Ablett (32 disposals and one goal) had a strong night against his former club, he got plenty of help.
Jarrod Harbrow (30) was magnificent at half-back, while captain Steven May (26 disposals) returned strongly from two weeks on the sidelines with a hamstring injury to negate Tom Hawkins.
Aaron Hall (32 touches and eight tackles) was busy and David Swallow – returning from a week of rest – was a beast around the contest, with 20 of his 23 possessions contested.
He also had 10 clearances.
The SUNS won all the key indicators and could have won more comfortably if they converted a 71-48 inside 50 advantage.
Tom Lynch (3.5) got on top of Tom Lonergan, while Peter Wright (1.4) also looked good in general play but let himself down in front of goal.
The much-vaunted Cats duo of Patrick Dangerfield (29) and Joel Selwood (24) battled hard, but didn't have a huge impact on the contest.
Ablett sent a scare through the SUNS camp late in the second quarter when he left the field clutching his right shoulder – the opposite shoulder to the one he's had surgery on twice - following a heavy tackle from Dangerfield.
However after five minutes of treatment he returned to the forward line and played the half out.
Geelong dropped simple marks in defence – one from Harry Taylor that led to the first of Callum Ah Chee's three goals – and fumbled with the ball when going forward.
Ablett brought the 13,648 spectators to their feet when he uncorked a stunning running goal from the junction of the 50m arc and the right hand boundary line late in the first term.
GOLD COAST 5.5 9.9 12.11 18.16 (124)
GEELONG 3.1 7.3 10.7 15.9 (99)
GOALS
Gold Coast: Lynch 3, Ah Chee 3, Matera 2, Sexton 2, Hall, Ablett, Barlow, Wright, Swallow, Lyons, Martin, Miller
Geelong: Hawkins 3, Menegola 3, Black 2, Menzel 2, Selwood, Mackie, Motlop, Lang, Duncan
BEST
Gold Coast: Harbrow, May, Ablett, Hall, Swallow, Lynch
Geelong: Menegola, Tuohy, Duncan, Selwood, Dangerfield
INJURIES
Gold Coast: Nil
Geelong: Henderson (ribs) replaced in selected side by Menegola
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Haussen, Nicholls, Hay
Official crowd: 13,648 at Metricon Stadium
