Gold Coast’s hopes of building on last year’s September success appear to be fading after slumping to their third consecutive loss.
The Suns were no match for Geelong at Kardinia Park on Friday night, going down 15.15. (105) to 8.12. (60).
Damien Hardwick vents his frustrations. Fox Footy
Damien Hardwick’s frustration was evident across the evening, bubbling over when a tough free kick call went against them in the second quarter.
Geelong star Jeremy Cameron won a free kick for marking interference on defender Oscar Adams, who was coming back with the flight to stop him.
The umpire paid the free kick to the veteran, with cameras panning to a furious Hardwick in the box, slamming the table in front of him and yelling in disbelief.
“Looked like he got a good spoil on it. I thought that was a really tough decision on the defender. He looked at the ball and he spoiled it … you can see Damien Hardwick’s reaction,” Hawthorn legend Jason Dunstall said on Fox Footy.
Ultimately, those six points didn’t particularly matter in the blowout victory.
It was a win the Cats certainly needed, after dropping games to Carlton and Adelaide in successive weeks themselves. They will now finish the weekend inside the top four.
Gold Coast meanwhile could fall as far as 10th if results go against them. They then have an incredibly difficult month to come, facing Hawthorn, Fremantle (away), Collingwood and Adelaide (away).
For a team that has added nine first round draft talents in three years thanks to their academy and traded for Melbourne star Christian Petracca, the prospect of missing the top 10 altogether looms as a total disaster.
Geelong legend Joel Selwood was straightforward in his evaluation of the struggling visitors.
“Gold Coast have a big growing up period ahead of them,” he told 3AW during the game.
“Geelong could have really blown this game out tonight.”
Cameron ultimately kicked three goals from eight scoring shots on Friday night and could have had a much larger evening.
Young midfielder Oliver Wiltshire kicked three himself, while Max Holmes and Bailey Smith dominated, combining for 58 disposals.
Bailey Smith in action against the Suns. AFL Photos via Getty Images
For the Suns, John Noble led the team with 30 disposals, while Ben King kicked three from 10 disposals.
Geelong now prepares for a clash with the white-hot Fremantle in Perth next Thursday night.
The Dockers will be coming off their bye and haven’t lost since their last encounter with the Cats back in round one.