GOLD COAST    4.6   6.9      9.13    13.18   (96)
GEELONG          2.6   5.12   12.14   15.20  (110)

It may not have been pretty nor convincing, but Geelong have secured a victory over a spirited Suns side by 14 points at Metricon Stadium.

In what was expected to be one of the more lopsided contests of the round, the Suns instead lead for the majority of the first half and looked ready to run over the top of the experienced Cats deep in the final term.

Geelong once more relied upon their experienced stars to drag them across the line, with Joel Selwood, Paul Chapman, James Kelly and Corey Enright all having a massive influence on the outcome.

Coach Chris Scott and the Geelong side had spent most of the week in the Gold Coast sun, and it appeared as though his side was still in holiday mode when it came time to play for the four points.

The past five years has left footy followers expecting clean and crisp football whenever Geelong laces up the boots, but 2012 has seen the reigning premiers become unusually sloppy in their play. Targets were missed, players seemed uninterested and the Suns were finding targets forward of centre incredibly easily.

Unfortunately, the ease of which they were finding targets was being negated by costly mistakes. Several certain goals went begging as late fumbles and errant passes to open team mates allowed the Cats to mop up the mess.

The Suns probably deserved to be in front by more at the major break, but it was those mistakes which allowed the Cats to claim the lead permanently with a clinical third quarter.

They kicked seven goals to three for the term, and it proved to be more than enough for the Cats to once again claim a victory without doing anything more than required.

Votes

3 Selwood

2 Chapman

1 Kelly

GOALS
Gold Coast: Caddy 3, McKenzie 2, Ablett 2, Bennell 2, Campbell Brown, Rischitelli, Day, Harbrow
Geelong: Hawkins 4, Chapman 4, Mitch Brown 2, Stokes, Kelly, Lonergan, Taylor Hunt, Motlop

INJURIES
Gold Coast: Wilkinson (knee)
Geelong: Nil

SUBSTITUTES
Gold Coast: Joel Wilkinson (knee) replaced by Dion Prestia in the first quarter
Geelong: Dawson Simpson replaced by Cameron Guthrie in the third quarter

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Rosebury, Ryan, Kamolins

Official crowd: 15,824 at Metricon Stadium