Gary Ablett booed but best on ground as Geelong smash Gold Coast in Metricon homecoming

GARY Ablett was booed by Gold Coast fans in his return to Metricon Stadium but the little master was dominant and produced a best on ground performance against his old side to remind Gold Coast exactly what they’re missing.

Gary Ablett was outstanding against his old side.

HISTORY repeated itself on Saturday night.

Gaz kicked a screamer from the pocket in another best on ground performance and the Suns produced a stinker.

The 85-point loss was so bad there might be another apology coming.

AS IT HAPPENED: ABLETT BOOED AS TENSIONS ROSE AGAINST SUNS

MATCH CENTRE: CATS PLAYERS POST BIG SUPERCOACH NUMBERS

Last time there was such a poor performance at Metricon Stadium the head of GOLDOC Peter Beattie was sorry that they’d got it wrong with the Commonwealth Games closing ceremony.

Gold Coast certainly owe their fans something after their long-awaited return to their home ground ended in a 17.19 (121) to 4.12 (36) trouncing, equalling the lowest ever score they have kicked at the venue.

There was also game-ending injuries to Aaron Hall (shoulder), Aaron Young (ankle/foot) and Steven May (ankle) to add another layer of pain for coach Stuart Dew.

Gary Ablett was outstanding against his old side.

You would think of all people Gold Coast players would be aware of what Gary Ablett was capable if given any breathing space but the lack of respect they showed the four time best and fairest and the club’s only Brownlow medallist was staggering.

“Everyone should know who number four for Geelong is,’’ a clearly frustrated Dew said.

There was a buzz around the ground before the start of the game as local fans celebrated the return of footy to the Gold Coast.

By half time there was stunned silence after the Cats booted nine straight goals to end the contest.

Or perhaps it was quiet fury that the club that has promised so much had again failed to deliver.

Losing their home ground to the Commonwealth Games was out of the Suns control but putting in a performance their fans could be proud of certainly wasn’t.

Steven May suffered an ankle injury in the last quarter. Picture: Getty

The Suns don’t have many big occasions, but Saturday night qualified. Their return to Metricon Stadium coincided with Ablett’s homecoming.

The fans did their part with a crowd of 17,490 that was a touch over the club’s expectation.

And so did Ablett.

Coach Chris Scott said he knew it was only a matter of time after returning from two hamstring injuries before Ablett would produce a blinder.

“He did deliver, I thought he played really well, it is the best game he has played for us, clearly,’’ he said.

He copped a half-hearted booing from the crowd and that was about as tough as his night got.

He ran around untouched, gathering 37 disposals, 28 of them uncontested, and booted three goals.

He also provided a touch of drama when he sought out Steven May after kicking his first goal in the third quarter.

Tim Kelly was one of a number of Geelong midfielders to find plenty of space and a lot of the ball.

May had delivered a cheeky sledge during the week that Patrick Dangerfield posed a greater threat to the Suns and Gaz let his old mate know he’d heard it and didn’t appreciate it.

At that stage the margin was 54 points.

When Touk Miller finally kicked the Suns’ second goal of the second half, and fourth of the match, late in the third quarter he ran to Gaz and delivered him a bump and a verbal spray.

He then went him again after the siren as the two sides headed to their huddles but with a 58 point three quarter time margin it looked ill advised.

And when Gaz opened the final quarter with a 50m bomb from the pocket, adding another edit to his Metricon Stadium highlight reel, he showed it was.

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Originally published as Gary Ablett booed but best on ground as Geelong smash Gold Coast in Metricon homecoming