Slick Suns make history in stunning demolition of Cats in Darwin (2024)

Well that was quite something, not sure we'll see another game quite like that again this year.

It's one to remember for the Suns, among the very best nights in their club's history. For Geelong, it's a third straight defeat and comfortably the most alarming of the three. This season takes yet another twist.

I'll be back tomorrow night as Sydney face off against Carlton, and I hope to see you again then.

Who gets the Brownlow votes tonight? It's surely a raffle between Noah Anderson and Matt Rowell, but that's not to downplay a few other big performances.

• Noah Anderson: 41 disposals, five clearances and two goals
• Matt Rowell: 35 disposals, 10 tackles, eight clearances and a goal
• Jack Lukosius: 16 disposals, eight marks and five goals
• Bailey Humphrey: 16 disposals, five tackles and five goals

The Cats wouldn't have kicked 100 points and lost too many times under Chris Scott. They've certainly never kicked 100 points and lost by 64 before.

The Suns basically had this game won at half-time, but were in no mood to let up after the long break. They ran all over Geelong tonight, letting up slightly in a defensive sense in the last quarter but while still banging on goal after goal at the same time.

In the end it's a pretty strange night. The Cats' midfield got belted, but actually won the clearances and finished level in contested possessions. It was on the outside that Geelong couldn't keep up and in defence that they were completely outmatched.

The high-scoring in this game makes it tough to get a read on it really. The Suns have looked sensational and shipped 100 points. The Cats have looked dismal but kicked 100 points. The truth probably lies somewhere in the middle, as ever. But still, this is a night worth celebrating for Gold Coast and a successful stint in Darwin completed.

For crying out loud, what are we watching here? If this is what people want footy to look like — a million goals, no defence, wide open — then count me out.

The Cats walk it out of a centre clearance unopposed and let Miers convert on the run from 40.

He's cramping up as he celebrates his feats, but this is comfortably a career-best haul for young Humphrey.

What a weird game this has been. 40 goals kicked between them. Basically no defence at all been played since half-time.

The young key forward has had some really bright moments tonight but has made some bad errors too.

There's definitely something to work with there with Neale. He will be key in the post-Hawkins world, whenever that comes.

He's had a good game, probably pretty close to Geelong's best on the night.

Scoring hasn't really been the issue for the Cats tonight, and Stengle has been at the heart of their best attacking moves. A good night for crumbers.

This is like a game from the '90s now. Too many goals, quite frankly. They didn't have to blog those shootouts, and thank goodness too.

The Cats haven't been able to take intercept marks in defence tonight and that alone has taken away so much of their game. Lukosius was lurking at ground level and snuck through his fifth.

For the first time in their history, the Gold Coast Suns have kicked 150 points or more in a game.

It's also the largest score ever conceded by a Chris Scott coached Geelong side.

Noah Anderson's goal on the run from 40 helps them raise the bat again.

Mark Blicavs didn't let that ball trickle out for a throw without a fight, and instead whacked it back in play to Close who was able to goal from close range.

He's not in the long sleeves tonight, Brad Close. Perhaps that's the problem.

Fair to say the wheels have fallen off for the Cats now.

Ben King was awarded a free kick for in the back, even though it very much looked like it was he who had done the infringing. The Geelong players certainly thought so, and a 50m penalty is awarded for dissent as they argued the toss.

Henry has been a bright spark inside 50 but has had to play fairly tall all night with the regular big boppers missing.

The Cats forwards have fought hard on limited opportunity. Still 13 minutes left in this one.

The clearance numbers are dead level, but when the Suns take it out of the stoppage they do it with clean handball chains that are leading to shots on goal.

Anderson has so often been key to that, and this time got on the end of it to snap through from 45 out. He's been sensational tonight.

And with that, Ben King is leading the Coleman Medal race.

Not one has been a set shot or from a mark tonight, it's all been ground-level work for King tonight. He can hurt you in so many different ways.

The Geelong sub was activated in the third quarter, Cam Guthrie the man to make way for Jhye Clark.

Clark found some space at a forward-50 stoppage and snapped neatly from the pocket.

He doesn't mind these Darwin games at all.

The Cats haven't had an answer for him tonight. Lukosius has kicked four and has passed off a couple too. He's beaten Geelong in the air and around the ground in his best game of the year so far.

Not much by way of celebration, but a nice finish nonetheless.

Tyson Stengle was at the heart of it, as he has been for most of Geelong's good moments tonight. One of the few Cats who has been able to control the ball at ground level.

The players missing has certainly had an impact. Put Patrick Dangerfield and Mitch Duncan in midfield, Jeremy Cameron and Tom Hawkins up forward and Sam De Koning back in defence and the balance of the team changes completely.

But I also think the Suns are just better suited to conditions like this. This sort of slippery, humid night isn't entirely foreign to them and it's been startling to see how much cleaner they have been than the Cats by hand all night.

Sixty-six points! It's a completely and utter demolition in Darwin, and the Suns aren't finished yet.

And to think Geelong had a three-point lead at quarter-time. They have been taken to the cleaners since then, beaten on the inside by the big Suns bulls and unable to keep up with the runners on the outside.

The Cats are playing for pride and to protect their percentage now. The Suns are hoping to complete a win that could inspire a resurgence through the second half of the season.