Gold Coast make early impression against Geelong under new coach Stuart Dew

IT’S only one pre-season match but new Suns coach Stuart Dew has already worked wonders at Gold Coast with the team producing the type of discipline we have rarely seen from them.

James Parsons gets a handball off under pressure. Picture: Alix Sweeney

GOLD Coast has defended like Swiss cheese in recent years — there have been holes, everywhere.

But new coach Stuart Dew has already worked wonders from a defensive point of view, with the Suns producing a type of relentless discipline we have rarely seen from them.

The Cats, without superstar midfield trio Gary Ablett, Joel Selwood and Patrick Dangerfield, genuinely had a tough time working the ball out of their back half.

SUPERCOACH: EVERY SCORE FROM SUNS V CATS

Following on from Richmond’s premiership game style last year, the Suns poured on the pressure in the forward half, helping convert Geelong turnovers into scores.

And they ran back in numbers when the Cats were in control of the ball, clogging up Geelong’s scoring zones.

Well done, coach.

Captain Tom Lynch was ­delighted with the results of a big pre-season.

“I thought the pressure was really good in the forward line,” he said.

“That’s what we have been really focusing on, that defensive pressure.”

Alex Sexton takes a mark in his new role as a forward. Picture: AAP

SEXTON SWITCH

THE positional moves are underway.

Perhaps looking for a more mobile edge, Dew swung 185cm utility Alex Sexton into a new forward role and he looked dangerous leading out from the goalsquare.

Sexton has serious pace and found himself alone on enough occasions to show the experiment is worth sticking with.

He is a clever one-on-one player and the Suns will hope he makes defenders more nervous throughout the year.

His front and square roving goal early in the third term put his team 40 points up and well in command.

LYNCH PIN

LYNCH will be one of the most talked about players in the game this season, and we liked what we saw.

He had a disappointing 2017, but reeled in a screamer in the first term and posed a constant threat in the air.

He jumped at the ball with freedom, was unselfish with his passing and was fully engaged in the new defensive systems.

Lynch will be worth in the vicinity of $1.5 million a season, and clubs such as Richmond, Hawthorn and Collingwood are at the front of the queue with chequebooks open.

Along with Sexton, the super-athletic Day and former Port Adelaide utility Aaron Young, Gold Coast’s forward set-up had more depth and bite, but Lynch is the one who is in for a massive payday.

Tom Lynch attempts to mark in a pack of Cats. Picture: AAP

MENZEL MAGIC

IT was a storyline which shocked us during the finals last year.

The clever goalkicker was dropped for the Cats’ first final because of his lack of defensive pressure and had no takers during the exchange period, leaving the free agent at a bit of a crossroads.

We saw bits of the best and worst and overall the forward line struggled, with Geelong managing only three goals to three quarter time.

A concern? A little.

Menzel showed his outstanding goal nous in the second term, nailing a left-foot snap from the tightest angle.

But the four-time knee reconstruction victim did grass a couple of marks we would expect him to snaffle.

FILLING GAPS

MARK Blicavs could be a backline regular early in the season.

He has played almost everywhere but coach Chris Scott needs to plug some holes in the back half in 2018.

Geelong lost retired pair Andrew Mackie and Tom Lonergan and Lachie Henderson is under a cloud as he recovers from a knee injury.

Yes, veteran Harry Taylor will move back into defence this year.

But Blicavs could be the answer if Henderson isn’t ready early and the running machine spent a fair part of yesterday manning the Suns’ big forwards.

If he can defend in the air and then get on his bike on the counter-attack he could become more than a spare-parts wingman and tagger.

Aaron Hall lays a tackle on James Parsons. Picture: Getty Images

DUNCAN DARLING

MITCH Duncan doesn’t get the plaudits he deserves and the gun midfielder showed he was ready to pick up from last year.

The 26-year-old had a career-best season in 2017 and he took charge of the midfield operations in the absence of his big-name teammates.

He is an elite runner and he led the Cats for disposals and tackles during the third term as the Suns began to streak away.

Duncan might not be one of the Geelong’s ‘Big 3’ but he will play a vital role if the Cats are to go deep into September.

Based on the game, he looks primed for another excellent season.

Jack Martin is put under pressure by Geelong defender Jed Bews. Picture: AAP

THE WILDCARD

NO doubt the Cats want to create more avenues to goal this year.

Stewart Crameri missed Sunday’s game but will be in the frame to take on Essendon in Colac next Sunday in their final JLT match.

First year dreadlocked forward Gryan Miers, from Geelong Falcons, also might get a look-in.

The man who bagged seven majors in the TAC Cup Grand Final was busy early in attack and along with injury-marred pair Cory Gregson and Lincoln McCarthy will look to add some extra spice to Geelong’s forward set-up.

Miers has a natural nose for the ball and did well to mark in front when he got his opportunity against the Suns, although the delivery inside attack wasn’t amazing.

Esava Ratugolea also impressed in the second half, taking a low-down diving mark and nailing the set shot. The 19-year-old, who has Fijian parents, is a project key forward and back-up ruckman.

Coming back from a foot stress fracture, Gregson gives Geelong some tackle pressure and he also will be in the frame for Round 1 after a productive afternoon in Townsville.