What a distinction an low season makes.
The Geelong Cats romped to premiership glory in 2022 towards the Sydney Swans in an 81-point thrashing that equalled the fifth greatest grand closing win in historical past.
Not solely that however the oldest staff to play a match in premiership historical past had ridden a 15-match successful streak to the trophy.
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But in sport, you’re solely nearly as good as your final sport and the Cats have now dropped to 0-3 to begin the brand new season.
The newest loss, a ten.13 (73) to 7.12 (54) defeat by the hands of the Gold Coast was the primary time the Suns have overwhelmed the Cats since Round 7, 2017.
It leaves the Cats the primary membership since 1975 VFL premiers North Melbourne began the 1976 season 0-3.
Remarkably nonetheless, the Kangaroos completed third on the desk and made the grand closing however misplaced to Hawthorn.
The AFL world has been left scratching its head as to what precisely goes flawed with the Cats as they appear a shadow of the staff that dominated the 2022 season.
With losses to Collingwood, Carlton and now the Gold Coast, the Cats stay the AFL’s greatest enigma in 2023, though loads of folks appear to consider the lack of Joel Selwood to retirement might have one thing to do with it.
It was an enormous win for the Suns as effectively to kick off their season after two losses.
And it took one thing particular with a protracted vary 73m bomb by Suns ahead Jack Lukosius sealing the outcome.
Lukosius had a breakout efficiency and proved the matchwinner with 5 targets.
It was Gold Coast’s first win of the season in membership favorite David Swallow’s two hundredth sport.
After a scrappy contest through which each groups kicked inaccurately, an excellent deal with by Joel Jeffrey allowed Noah Anderson to pounce and put the Suns up by seven factors simply earlier than three quarter-time.
The margin turned 11 factors halfway by the ultimate time period when Charlie Ballard kicked really from 50m out.
The Cats hit again by the subbed on Gary Rohan, earlier than the 73m bomb from Lukosius with seven minutes left put the house facet up by 13 factors, a lead which wouldn’t be chased down.
Further targets to Alex Sexton and Lukosius’ fifth sealed Suns coach Stuart Dew’s first win over Geelong.
Adding salt to the wound, Cat Sam De Koning suffered a horror head conflict with Nick Holman and was subbed out and was sporting a nasty shiner afterwards after the pair got here collectively, however each had been deemed to have been going for the ball.
With Nick Smart, NCA Newswire
Source: www.news.com.au
