AFL 2024: Suns rise to prime time occasion, dominate Cats 164-100

Chris Scott didn’t miss in his discussion about umpiring last week. But, despite a lopsided free kick count, he took a different approach after Gold Coast dismantled his side in Darwin.

Callum Dick and Nathaniel Chambers

5 min read

May 17, 2024 - 9:43AM

News Corp Australia Sports Newsroom

DARWIN, AUSTRALIA - MAY 16: Matt Rowell (left) and Brayden Fiorini of the Suns celebrate during the 2024 AFL Round 10 match between The Gold Coast SUNS and The Geelong Cats at TIO Stadium on May 16, 2024 in Darwin, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

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It’s a stage on which Gold Coast has stumbled so many times before.

Big occasion. Big opponent. Big ramifications.

Lesser sides have succumbed to the prime time pressure in years past but Thursday night’s historic demolition of Geelong in Darwin could be the game we look back on as the awakening of Damien Hardwick’s Suns.

Even without Jeremy Cameron, Tom Hawkins and Patrick Dangerfield the Cats were still favoured to take care of business in the Top End against a side that ran itself into the ground only six days earlier.

But save for some of Hardwick’s hated “Benny Hill” moments in the first quarter, Gold Coast completely outworked and outclassed the Cats.

The Suns put in a historic performance against the Cats. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

A club-record score and career-best outings from all of Gold Coast’s big names underpinned the unquestioned best performance in club history.

This was a carousel of class from the Suns, whose stars queued up an electric performance that must now become the new benchmark for Hardwick moving forward.

The master coach called himself out on the failed shift to defence for Jack Lukosius last week and the 23-year-old’s return to his former key forward post has found instant success.

He threatened to blow the game open in a first quarter that included three goals, two goal assists and even more majors left on the table.

When the game was in the balance in the first half he was among the most damaging players on the field, before settling in for the show as the Suns forward line ran rings around its rivals.

Geelong’s makeshift midfield was picked apart by Port Adelaide last week and it lacked even more gears in Darwin, with Chris Scott lamenting his side’s form.

The Cats provided little resistance after quarter time. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos

“We’ve been aware for a good three weeks now, besides 15 minutes (against Port Adelaide) that we’ve been a little bit off,” Scott said.

“We got beaten by some good players around the ball, it was a very unusual score line, to give up that many is unusual for us and the stats aren’t any better for us.

“We didn’t get our hands on the ball and we didn’t handle the conditions well enough, from our point of view it’s not like we have a history of playing this poorly.

“It’s clear that we’re off and we have some problems we need to fix. It’s a balance between not glossing over it, and we’re not going to do that, but we’re also not going to overreact.”

Free kicks were once again a discussion point for the Cats, particularly after Suns had 17 to their three at half time.

However, despite a long discussion about the state of umpiring after the Port Adelaide game last week, he said he was not coming down hard on umpires.

“I wasn’t strong on decisions last game, I’ve been encouraged by the AFL to talk about some of the issues in the game,” he said.

“It’s not about umpires and decisions, it’s quite clear it’s a hard game to umpire and lots of mistakes will be made, that’s the same for players, that’s the nature of our game.

“But there’s stuff about how the laws are interpreted and the way the game is played and how we want to coach our players that are worthy of discussion and debate.

“We didn’t think about it tonight, we just got beaten in every area and sometimes when you’re beaten around you get desparate and sort of grab an arm or something like that.”

The usual suspects for the Suns of Matt Rowell, Noah Anderson and Touk Miller continued their stellar seasons and this might have been their best outing yet.

Former Sun Jack Bowes was tasked with taking Rowell at the stoppages but it became apparent very early on that he was not equipped for the herculean task. Few in the AFL are at this point.

Bailey Humphrey played the best game of his career. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Rowell’s pirouettes out of traffic became dancing déjà vu and it’s now crystal clear that the blueprint to stopping the Suns is stifling their midfield bull.

His best mate Anderson also had a day out. With each passing week their combination grows stronger and Hardwick must be rubbing his hands with glee and the weapons he has at his disposal.

Rowell (35 disposals, 8 clearances, 1 goal), Anderson (41 disposals, 5 clearances, 2 goals) and Sam Flanders (37 disposals, 4 clearances) all finished with career-best figures.

Next up is a mouth-watering midfield match-up with Patrick Cripps and Sam Walsh at Marvel Stadium.

Forward of the ball it became a raffle for top goal scorer.

Bailey Humphrey played the best game of his career with five goals and some moments of individual brilliance. At the start of the campaign Hardwick said the 19-year-old reminded him of Dusty and those comparisons got some work on Thursday night.

Ben King has quietly shot to the front of the Coleman Medal race after his own bag of four – bested by Lukosius, who deservedly finished with five goals and as many goal assists from 16 disposals.

Ben King continued his good form. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

That’s two bags of five in as many seasons against the Cats and the fourth of his career.

Fair to say Hardwick’s self-humbling has immediately paid off.

After they were thrashed by Brisbane a fortnight ago, Hardwick declared they were a long way off the top sides in the competition – but he expected that to change by mid-season.

If this was a glimpse of their promised best, we might finally have a Suns side ready to challenge for September.

They flew to Darwin a week ago desperate for one win and hopeful of two and left in the early hours of Friday morning with two of the 10 biggest wins in club history and a genuine scalp in their locker.

The victory may have however, been soured by an injury to emergins star Mac Andrew.

Andrew was spotted in a moon boot after the match and is in serious doubt for next Saturday’s clash with Carlton.

The 20-year-old collided with teammate Ben Ainsworth in the second quarter and hobbled from the field.

He returned briefly after being assessed but was subbed out of the game at halftime.

Coach Damien Hardwick speculated it could be a “fracture” in the lower leg though could not be sure until Andrew was sent for scans.

“We hope it’s not too serious, but we’re not too sure and once we get a fair indication of what it looks like we’ll pass on the information,” Hardwick said.

“Whether it’s a little fracture in his fibular, I’m not too sure.

“We’re hoping for the best, but he’s such a brilliant player, he’s one of those players who people want to see play so hopefully he’s okay.”