GOLD Coast has spoiled the final game of Kevin Sheedy's coaching career, romping to a record-breaking win over Greater Western Sydney at Metricon Stadium on Sunday.
The SUNS took control early and never looked back, winning 22.14 (146) to 9.9 (63).
The 83-point margin eclipsed the club's previous biggest win of 60 points over Melbourne earlier this season.
It was also their eighth win of a much-improved third season, but not the result Sheedy was looking for to finish his illustrious career.
Both teams formed a guard of honour after the match to farewell the man who finished with a combined 930 games as player (251) and coach (679).
Fittingly it was a modern-day champion who stopped Sheedy in his tracks in his final match though, with Gold Coast captain Gary Ablett putting on a clinic.
By his own lofty standards Ablett has had a slow past month, but the Brownlow Medal favourite bounced back in style, finishing with 33 disposals and four goals.
He had 14 touches, four clearances and two goals in the first quarter as the SUNS jumped to a 21-point lead.
Ablett added a third goal early in the second quarter, a fourth early in the third and finished full of running in a performance that will surely get him three more valuable votes.
Michael Rischitelli finished a frustrating season strongly, initially keeping Tom Scully quiet and getting plenty of ball himself.
He had 13 disposals and two goals alone in the second quarter and finished with 25 for the match, just two weeks after returning from a dislocation injury.
Andrew Boston had his best game for the SUNS with four goals, while Dion Prestia (34 disposals) and Harley Bennell (27) were also good for the victors.
The match was often played with little intensity as the two youngest teams in the competition searched for the finish line to long seasons.
The Giants won just one game this year and will get the number one pick in November's NAB AFL Draft after finishing with the wooden spoon.
Young forward Jeremy Cameron started the day needing eight goals to match Jarryd Roughead's tally of 68 for the Coleman Medal, but managed just 2.3 from limited chances.
Gold Coast 6.1 12.3 16.7 22.14 (146)
Greater Western Sydney 2.4 5.4 7.8 9.9 (63)
GOALS:
Gold Coast: Ablett 4, Boston 4, Bennell 2, Rishitelli 2, Dixon 2, Harbrow 2, Stanley 2, Prestia 2, Gillbee, Hall, Hunt
Greater Western Sydney: Cameron 2, Sumner, Kennedy, Giles, Tomlinson, Adams, Coniglio, Hampton
BEST:
Gold Coast: Ablett, Stanley, Prestia, Weller, Bennell, Boston
Greater Western Sydney: Adams, Greene, Tomlinson
INJURIES: None
SUBSTITUTES:
Gold Coast: Karmichael Hunt on for Joel Wilkinson in the third quarter
Greater Western Sydney: Kristian Jaksch on for James Stewart in the third quarter
Reports: None
Umpires: Leppard, Findlay, Mitchell
Official crowd: 13,080
