Injury-prone big man Nathan Vardy’s four-goal haul in his first AFL game of the season put the exclamation point on Geelong’s 52-point win over Gold Coast.
The Cats charged to a 9-1 win-loss record on Saturday night as they celebrated their first game under lights at Simonds Stadium with a nine-goal burst in the final term for an 18.15 (123) to 10.11 (71) victory.
As midfielder Gary Ablett starred in his first game at Simonds Stadium since quitting the Cats in 2010, Gold Coast (4-6) showed a lot of determination to turn at the last change with scores level.
The 198cm Vardy, who has battled hip problems, bagged a career-best four goals in his 12th senior match after four games in the VFL.
Vardy came into the side for injured key forward James Podsiadly (knee) and the Cats also have ruckman Hamish McIntosh (Achilles) set to return soon.
Geelong coach Chris Scott said he regarded the athletic Vardy as a ruck/forward and admitted the Cats faced some selection headaches.
“(First-year ruckman) Mark Blicavs got an opportunity at the start of the year because we just didn’t have anyone else really,” Scott said.
“But if you ask me now of all the ruckmen on our list who’s the first one picked, he’d be pretty close.
“We’re going to have some headaches with our big guys but it’s not just the key forwards, it’s the ruckmen as well.”
Gold Coast coach Guy McKenna said Ablett’s 34-disposal, two-goal, 10-clearance game was superb.
Scott praised 2009 Brownlow Medallist Ablett as one of the best players he’d seen, if not the best.
McKenna highlighted the emergence of players such as teenager Jaeger O’Meara, Dion Prestia and Southport product Rory Thomspon as part of the maturing of the side.
“Geelong went to another level. It’s a great learning curve for the fellas,” McKenna said.
McKenna said Ablett’s amazing snapshot goal from the boundary 45 metres out in the final term, similar to the one against Brisbane for the Cats in 2009, was “probably regulation for Gaz”.
Ablett, who turned boos into cheers with his last-quarter goal, said the fans gave him a great reception.