By Michael Whiting
Geelong has overcome a sluggish first-half to record an unconvincing 14-point win over Gold Coast SUNS at Metricon Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
The 15.20 (110) to 13.18 (96) victory consolidates the Cats' spot in seventh place, but came only after theSUNS led at both quarter and half-time.
Not surprisingly it was ever-reliable Paul Chapman and Joel Selwood that hauled the rusty premiers over the line.
Chapman kicked three goals in as many minutes during the second term to arrest a 17-point deficit, while Selwood was a warrior around the contest for all four quarters.
The Geelong skipper finished with 32 disposals, while Chapman had 28 and four goals.
In a repeat of last year's opening match at Metricon, the SUNS led at half-time (three points), before Geelong kicked seven goals in the third quarter to blow the match open.
Gary Ablett kicked the first goal of the final quarter to reduce the margin to 11 points and breathe life into the contest.
Tom Hawkins took a strong contested mark and booted his fourth to snuff out any hope of an unlikely Gold Coast win.
The SUNS continued to battle away and rewarded the 15,824 spectators with the final three goals of the match.
Ablett had 27 disposals - including 11 in the last term - and kicked 2.4 but it was not enough.
Geelong entered the match well understrength with Steve Johnson (hamstring) and Harry Taylor (personal reasons) late withdrawals.
After spending the entire week on the Gold Coast to prepare, Geelong looked like they were still in holiday mode during the opening quarter.
They missed easy targets, were unaccountable in defence and not as committed as the SUNS.
Gold Coast were easily getting over the back of the Cats' press and could well have led by more than 12 points at the first change if they were more efficient going forward.
Jared Brennan was lively across half-forward and Trent McKenzie's two first quarter goals included one of his cannon left foot from 55m.
But as has so often happened for the winless SUNS (0-14) they dropped away for one quarter.
Chapman's burst started when he out-bodied Matt Shaw, then Trent McKenzie and finally read the play better than Danny Stanley to mark and goal from close range each time.
GOLD COAST SUNS 4.6 6.9 9.13 13.18 (96)
GEELONG 2.6 5.12 12.14 15.20 (110)
GOALS
Gold Coast SUNS: Caddy 3, McKenzie 2, Ablett 2, Bennell 2, Campbell Brown, Rischitelli, Day, Harbrow
Geelong: Hawkins 4, Chapman 4, Mitch Brown 2, Stokes, Kelly, Lonergan, Taylor Hunt, Motlop
BEST
Gold Coast SUNS: Bennell, Rischitelli, McKenzie, Ablett, Harbrow, Caddy
Geelong: Chapman, Selwood, Hawkins, Kelly, Mackie, Hunt
INJURIES
Gold Coast SUNS: Wilkinson (knee)
Geelong: Nil
SUBSTITUTES
Gold Coast SUNS: Joel Wilkinson (knee) replaced by Dion Prestia in the first quarter
Geelong: Dawson Simpson replaced by Cameron Guthrie in the third quarter
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Rosebury, Ryan, Kamolins
Official crowd: 15,824 at Metricon Stadium
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs
