FOOTBALL THE REAL WINNER AT GOLD COAST
Mark Heenan 29 May 2011

By Mark Heenan GOLD COAST SUNS V GEELONG CATS WHAT a spectacle, the opening of a new AFL stadium. Saturday night's historic Round 10 encounter between the Gold Coast Suns and the Geelong Cats at Metricon Stadium on the Gold Coast was a significant occasion for both clubs, the AFL and the rise of the game in Queensland.

The Suns v Cats game was the hottest ticket in town, the traffic was exceedingly busier on the roads before and after the match and impressive fireworks display show lit up the new $144.2 million Metricon Stadium.
No doubt the biggest applause or good riddance from Cats fans was saved for Gold Coast Suns cashed up recruit Gary Ablett in action against his former team that made him famous.

For the record, Ablett, who played 192 AFL games with Geelong between 2002 and 2010, was the leading disposal winner on the ground with 31 possessions for the Suns. The special ocassion flavour evident as Master of Ceremonies gun Craig Willis did some of his finest voice over work before the match.
Geelong may have eventually defeated the Suns in the end by 66 points, but the Gold Coast put their A-game into gear in the first half and went into the main break with a surprising 11-point lead against the ladder leaders.

While 5000 loyal Geelong fans made the trek to the sunshine state to see their team in action, the first half was filled with a sea of red and yellow as the Suns made Metricon Stadium a fortress much like Geelong does at Skilled Stadium.

You could not help notice the avalanche of Gold Coast Suns flags and the noise that erupted when a goal was kicked in the first half. The game had a lot of firsts, the Suns played their opening home game under lights at the new Metricon Stadium, Josh Cowan made his debut for the Cats and Rugby League convert Karmchael Hunt kicked his first goal in the AFL, an impressive 50-metre drop punt on the run.
Geelong proved their finals credentials and class in the second half taking advantage of the young but gallant Suns, who failed to kick a goal following half time.

The Cats booted 13 goals after the main break. Mercurial forward Steve Johnson dominated with seven goals, while James 'jPod' Podsiadly chipped in with four majors. A brilliant night to be part of in the crowd, an excellent advertisment for the game in Queensland.

GEELONG: 3.2. 8.3 16.9 21.13 (139) DEFEATED
GOLD COAST:6.4 9.8 10.11 10.13 (73)

GOALS
GEELONG: S Johnson 7, J Podsiadly 4, M Stokes 2, J Selwood 2, J Cowan, T Hawkins, JHunt, C Ling, D Menzel, N Vardy
GOLD COAST: N Krakouer 2, Z Smith 2, J Brennan, K Hunt, T Lynch, D Stanley, C Dixon, S Iles

BEST
GEELONG: Johnson, Bartel, Podsiadly, Selwood, Chapman, Kelly
GOLD COAST: Ablett, Smith, Bock, Swallow

INJURIES
GEELONG: Nil reports
GOLD COAST: Nil reports

REPORTS: Nil

UMPIRES: FIELD UMPIRES: Brett Rosebury (8) Matthew Leppard (11) Robert Findlay (23) EM: Ben Ryan (27)
BOUNDARY UMPIRES: Aaron Deckys Nick Liparota Mark Foster Luke Roberts
GOAL UMPIRES: Troy Mavroudis Tristan Symes EM: Shaun Apted

CROWD: 21,485 at Carrara, Gold Coast