WITH Gary Ablett sitting in the stands due to a hamstring injury, Geelong fans needed to find a point of interest in Saturday's game against Gold Coast at Skilled Stadium.

So, with the previous week's 186-point demolition of Melbourne fresh in their minds, many of them viewed the contest as a world record attempt, and their team became a metaphorical swimmer chasing the yellow line.

The Cats' targets were the AFL record score of 37.17 (239), set by Geelong against the Brisbane Bears in 1992, and the record margin of 190 points, set by Fitzroy in 1979.

Chris Scott's men had fallen narrowly short of eclipsing both in their thumping of the Demons.

Although Geelong kicked 18 goals to three in the first half against the Suns, setting up a 94-point lead in the process, the yellow line prevailed in the end.

The winning margin was pushed out to 150 points by the Cats' eight-goal effort in the last quarter, while the final score was 29.14 (188) to 6.2 (38).

It was Geelong's 29th consecutive win at Skilled Stadium.

Steve Johnson led the way for the Cats yet again with six goals, while James Podsiadly booted five.
 
However, champion defender Matthew Scarlett missed much of the second half after suffering a left knee injury.

The Suns had their moments. They were only a point down 20 minutes into the opening quarter after Danny Stanley kicked a brilliant goal then Josh Fraser added another.

And they kicked the first three goals of the third term, with Stanley and superboot Trent McKenzie in the thick of the action.

Nevetheless, it was Gold Coast's heaviest defeat in its short history, eclipsing the 139-point loss to Essendon in round six. It was also the club's lowest score.

Making matters worse, the Suns lost experienced defender Campbell Brown for the rest of the season after he suffered a fractured pelvis in the first term.

Geelong did break two records during the afternoon: it became the first VFL/AFL team to win 17 home and away games in five straight seasons, and the Cats also recorded the most inside-50s in League history (the final tally was 80-30).

Quarter by Quarter

First Quarter

After one minute and four seconds Geelong had a goal on the board, with Steve Johnson beginning where he left off a week earlier. But the Gold Coast was up for a fight, winning the ball from the middle and using the ball cleanly. After 20 minutes the score was three goals each - with fine goals coming from Danny Stanley and Josh Fraser - but the Suns had Campbell Brown carried off on a stretcher with what appeared to be a pelvis injury. He was taken to hospital. At that point, in typical style, the Cats put the foot down and kicked four goals in the last six minutes to finish the quarter with eight goals. Johnson had kicked four by the first break.

Geelong 8.1 (49) v Gold Coast 3.0 (18)

Second Quarter

Johnson kicked the first goal and Geelong was ready to seize any opportunity that came its way, sweating on the Suns' mistakes. The ball was basically in Geelong's half for most of the quarter. By half time the Cats had already put a century on the board and had kicked 15 consecutive goals. The Suns did not score for the quarter. Johnson had five goals and James Podsiadly had kicked four goals, with the margin 94 points.

Geelong 18.4 (122) v Gold Coast 3.0 (18)

Third Quarter

The Suns briefly shone, kicking three the first three goals of the term. But Geelong worked its way into the game again. The Suns were pushing numbers behind the ball and trying to retain possession to stem the flow. It worked as the Cats could not penetrate and only managed three goals, four behinds for the quarter. The Cats only had two more possessions than the Suns.

Geelong 21.8 (134) v Gold Coast 6.1 (37)

Fourth Quarter

With the game won, Joel Corey subbed off and Matthew Scarlett injured it was a matter of guessing the final margin. The margin became more than 100 points early but Geelong's ball use was not as precise as it had been in the first half. Geelong kicked five goals and the Suns finally scored a behind at the 21-minute mark to break the duck at the City end of the ground. Then David Wojcinski took five bounces to give the crowd a highlight to end the day. The Cats were relentless to the end, kicking eight goals for the quarter and winning by 150 points.

Geelong 29.14 (188) to Gold Coast 6.2 (38)

Influential players
Initially opposed to Suns youngster Jeremy Taylor (who grew up in Geelong), Steve Johnson made a blistering start, booting four goals in the opening quarter. Joel Wilkinson replaced Taylor, yet Johnson continued on his merry way, booting another goal in the opening minutes of the second term. A huge bag beckoned, but Johnson was later moved into the midfield and had to settle for a relatively paltry tally of six.
Usually a midfielder or half-forward, Travis Varcoe lined up on a half-back flank and played one of his best games, ending the afternoon with 33 possessions. Only one Geelong player, Joel Selwood, collected as many touches as Varcoe. Selwood also kicked three goals.

Magic moment
In the 14th minute of the first quarter, the Suns won the ball when James Kelly was penalised for holding the ball in Geelong's forward 50. They quickly rushed the ball through the middle of the ground and Trent McKenzie booted it inside 50, his pass landing nicely in front of Danny Stanley. Showing great poise, Stanley took possession and kicked a brilliant goal from 30m out on the boundary line. At that stage is was only seven points the difference.

The Campbell Brown mystery
Some injuries are obvious and some are not. Midway through the first quarter, Campbell Brown was jogging a few metres behind his opponent Cameron Mooney when he suddenly began hobbling. He soon fell to the ground and was in such a bad way that he had to be transported from the field on a stretcher. Brown was immediately taken to hospital for scans and was diagnosed with a fractured pelvis. The injury had happened in a contest a couple of minutes before he collapsed to the turf.

Ablett watch
Gold Coast captain Gary Ablett was unable to play, but the man who played in two premierships and won a Brownlow Medal during his stellar career at Geelong was at Skilled Stadium for the contest. And the little champion proved he's still a fan favourite down at the Cattery. When Ablett walked onto the ground, looking resplendent in his Sun polo shirt, the whole crowd at the Doug Wade end of the ground stood and cheered. Ablett then delighted the Geelong supporters by pausing to sign some autographs.

Next Four:
Geelong: Adelaide Crows (AAMI Stadium), Bye, Sydney Swans (Skilled Stadium), Collingwood (MCG)
Gold Coast: Brisbane Lions (Gabba), Adelaide Crows (Metricon Stadium), Melbourne (MCG), Hawthorn (Metricon Stadium)

Toyota AFL Dream Team highlight:
Geelong: Steve Johnson ($382,100) was one of many Cats to run amok, scoring 146 points.
Gold Coast: Nathan Bock ($305,700) endured a tough day at the office, but still managed 105 points, the only Sun to break the ton.

Geelong       8.2   18.4   21.8   29.14 (188)
Gold Coast  3.0    3.0     6.1      6.2 (38)

GOALS
Geelong: Johnson 6, Podsiadly 5, Mooney 3, Selwood 3, Hawkins 2, Bartel 2 Christensen 2, Chapman 2, Milburn, Ling, Wojcinski, Stokes
Gold Coast:  Stanley 2 Bennell 2, Fraser, McKenzie

BEST
Geelong: Selwood, Varcoe, Podsiadly, Christensen, Hawkins, Duncan, Wojcinski, Johnson
Gold Coast:  Bock, Harbrow, Stanley, Rischitelli, McKenzie

INJURIES
Geelong: Scarlett (knee)
Gold Coast: Campbell Brown (pelvis)

SUBSTITUTES
Geelong: Joel Corey replaced by Tom Lonergan at half-time
Gold Coast: Campbell Brown (pelvis) replaced by Seb Tape in the first quarter

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Grun, Schmitt, Keating

Official crowd: 24,588 at Skilled Stadium