SON-of-a-gun Joel Jeffrey produced the second-best individual goalkicking performance of the season in a stunning audition for an AFL debut as Gold Coast crushed a disappointing Aspley by 78 points in its VFL clash at Graham Road Oval on Saturday.

Jeffrey, who joined the Suns this season as a Northern Territory zone selection,  piled on nine goals without a miss as his side dominated from start to finish to record its fourth win of the year and send the Hornets spiralling to a ninth consecutive defeat.

The son of former St Kilda and Brisbane Bears player Russell, Jeffrey snared two goals in each of the first two quarters, three in the third and two in the last, but his body failed him at the death and he missed out on several late chances to hit double figures due to cramp.

He took eight marks and kicked his 9.0 from just 11 kicks in a remarkably efficient display to move to 21.8 from nine games for the season, adding this haul to three previous tallies of three.

Only Southport’s Mitch Johnson, who kicked 10 against Aspley in round five, has had a bigger day in attack this season.

But while the forward has to finish the job, it takes a terrific midfield to get the ball to him, and fellow Territorian Mal Rosas Jr also had a day out with a career-best performance of 27 disposals, seven tackles, seven clearances, four inside-50s and a goal – his previous best was 18 disposals and two goals against Sydney in round two in a display that helped earn him three AFL games.

Papua New Guinea’s 2017 International Cup hero Hewago Paul Oea was another to shine with 18 touches, six marks and two goals, and Irishman Luke Towey was good in defence with 19.

Prolific midfielder Darcy MacPherson had 24 and two majors and No.7 draft pick Elijah Hollands continues to improve in the third game of his comeback from a knee reconstruction with 19 disposals.

Gold Coast booted five goals to one for a 26-point lead at quarter-time and extended its lead at every break, blowing the final margin out with five unanswered majors in the last term.

Evergreen skipper Matthew Payne again led the way for Aspley, earning a game-high 29 disposals, 10 marks and a goal, Corey Lyons (25) and Ryan Bastinac (20) also tried hard and ruckman Matt Eagles was the best big man on the ground with 17 disposals and 32 hitouts while being double teamed by Zac Smith and Ned Moyle.

Matt Hammelmann booted three goals to move to 42 for the season and centre half-back James Nelis was solid in his return from his own knee reconstruction with 13 possessions and six marks.

Former Brisbane Lion Jonathon Freeman celebrated his 100th NEAFL/VFL match, but it was unfortunately not a day to remember for him or his team as they were overwhelmed by a younger, faster unit, coupled by losing Hammelmann’s right-hand man Connor Stackelberg to injury early.

SATURDAY, JULY 24

Aspley 6.8 (44) lost to Gold Coast 19.8 (122) (Match Centre)

Twitter: @BRhodesVFL

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