Geelong has done its premiership favourite status no harm with a dominant win over the Gold Coast Suns at Metricon Stadium to sure up the minor premiership.
Despite just three goals in the final term, Chris Scott’s men waltzed to a 60-point win courtesy of a 77-point opening half.
Jeremy Cameron finished as one of the visitor’s best with three goals to his name. The 29-year-old is now just two goals behind Coleman Medal leader Charlie Curnow and could have taken the lead with straighter kicking after booting 3.3 for the afternoon.
Cameron also had a game-high 10 score involvements in a complete performance after spending the final 15 minutes on the bench, while forward partner-in-crime Tom Hawkins finished with nine and a goal.
Jezza lets rip from 50 🚀#AFLSunsCats pic.twitter.com/SmWvTJKCEb
— AFL (@AFL) August 13, 2022
Tyson Stengle (three), Gryan Miers (two), Mark Blicavs (two), Brandon Parfitt (two) and Max Holmes (two) were the others with multiple goals to their name as Geelong finished with 10 individual goalkickers.
The win moves the Cats to 68 premiership points and confirms their status as minor premiers with West Coast still to play in Round 23.
It's the Tyson Stengle show up on the Gold Coast 🍿
— AFL (@AFL) August 13, 2022
He's got three in the opening quarter!#AFLSunsCats pic.twitter.com/T6mbrv4UOn
For the Suns, Saturday’s clash followed their recent trend. Stuart Dew’s men have lost four of their last five and six of their last eight after being in strong contention for finals just a month ago.
Touk Miller and Brandon Ellis combined for 68 disposals, but the Suns were walloped in contested possessions (151-126) and they struggled to get any momentum ahead of the ball for long periods of time from there.
Gold Coast’s attention now turns to an injury late in the contest to Izak Rankine. The young star suffered what appeared to be a shoulder knock late in the final term and was in considerable pain leaving the field.
He did not return.
Meanwhile, Geelong also lost in-form ruckman Rhys Stanley to a knee injury in the third quarter, although the 31-year-old was pictured smiling on the broadcast and seemingly with few concerns.
FULL SCORE
Gold Coast: 2.2, 4.2, 7.2, 9.5. (59)
Geelong: 7.3, 12.5, 15.9, 19.11. (119)
GOALS
Gold Coast: Rankine 2, Anderson, Davies, Day, Hollands, Lukosius, Witts, Flanders
Geelong: Cameron 3, Stengle 3, Holmes 2, Miers 2, Blicavs 2, Parfitt 2, Guthrie, Hawkins, Menegola, Tuohy
BEST
Gold Coast: Ellis, Witts, Miller, Rankine, Anderson
Geelong: Cameron, Blicavs, Holmes, Guthrie, Stengle
INJURIES
Gold Coast: Day (Knee), Rankine (Shoulder)
Geelong: Stanley (Knee)