AFL LIVE: ‘It was always an issue with the Dogs’: Smith’s eyebrow-raising comments after Cats’ huge win

Geelong’s unbeaten streak against Gold Coast at GHMBA Stadium has stretched to 10 as the Cats embarrassed the Suns’ big name midfielders to strengthen their hold on a top-four spot.

The game followed the same, familiar script dozens of Geelong games against non-Victorian teams have followed in the past two decades.

The plot is an arm wrestle eventually turning into a Cats festival of goals, with Geelong scoring more than 100 points – this time winning 15.15 (105) to 8.12 (60).

This one had a slight twist, with the players and fans and the president and the CEO wearing white to create an image for those attending to recall the match some time in the future.

The margin was 45 points, after hovering around a comfortable five goals from midway through the second term, apart from a moment in the third quarter when the Suns drew within three goals for a minute.

A centre clearance that led to Shannon Neale marking on the 50-metre mark and bombing a long goal steadied the ship, and it was plain sailing for the rest of the match.

Premiership midfielder Tom Atkins defeated Brownlow medallist Matt Rowell inside the contest and Oisin Mullin quelled the influence of Christian Petracca.

When the ball dribbled into space, the Cats’ dash brothers, Bailey Smith and Max Holmes, were way too quick in pouncing on the ball, and Ollie Dempsey patrolled his wing to kick two goals.

Noah Anderson’s and Touk Miller’s stretch of below-par form continued and their out-of-contract forwards Bailey Humphrey, Ben King and Jed Walter could not get into the game.

Those three are being chased by the Hawks, who face the Gold Coast at People First Stadium next Friday night in what should be a spirited contest.

The Suns had way more disposals, but the Cats won the territory battle – winning clearances 40-29 and inside 50s 62-47. Defender Sam Collins never waved the white flag and kept the scoreboard respectable.

The Cats’ ability to score in red time proved the difference, with the home side kicking six goals to one in that period of the game in the first three quarters.

Geelong now sit third on the ladder with Chris Scott coaching Mark Blicavs in a game for the 306th time, equalling a record Collingwood’s Gordon Coventry and Jock McHale have held since the 1930s.

The Suns are inside the top 10, but they have not lived up to expectations this season and have a very difficult run home. Their season might set earlier than predicted unless they turn things around quickly.