Geelong Thrashes Gold Coast Suns by 45 Points at Kardinia Park

Gold Coast's slide has continued, thrashed by Geelong in a 45-point procession at Kardinia Park.

Expected to be a premiership contender following their maiden finals appearance last season, the Suns slumped to a third-straight defeat in another listless performance away from home.

Up by 12 points late in the first quarter, Gold Coast conceded the next seven goals as Geelong celebrated its 'White Out' night with a 15.15 (105) to 8.12 (60) win in front of 30,276 fans.

Suns coach Damien Hardwick was visibly livid with a number of umpiring decisions throughout the night, taking particular umbrage with the awarding of a free kick to Geelong forward Jeremy Cameron in the second quarter.

Gold Coast's frustrations with the officiating were evident at the half-time break when captain Noah Anderson was seen having a lengthy discussion with the umpires while walking off the ground.

Following the match, Hardwick compared Kardinia Park to the "Roman Colosseum" when discussing the officiating.

"The crowd would do this one [thumbs down signal] and all of a sudden, free kick," he said in his post-match press conference.

"At the end of the day, it is what it is, home ground advantage, we know you're up against it from the start, but a couple of them I thought weren't there."

Hardwick also called for the AFL to tweak its 'lasso' rule between the two 50m arcs.

"The lasso rule, where it comes off a guy's foot indiscriminately, and then it's a [free kick]," he said.

"I don't know, that's not what the rule is for. Like if someone kicks it out of bounds, absolutely, but if we're knocking it off someone's foot and we're looking at that ... they need to change it, it's an easy change.

"It's not the reason we won or lost, I just think they change a lot of things, just change that."

Despite Gold Coast's qualms, Geelong only narrowly won the free kick count 24-20.

Geelong coach Chris Scott was also caught in a furious state with a decision in the third quarter when Cats star Bailey Smith was denied a holding-the-ball free kick, as well as when Ollie Dempsey was denied a shot at goal on the line for a push in the back that didn't appear to be there.

Scott addressed umpiring for about five minutes during his post-match press conference, attempting to explain to the fans what the AFL are telling clubs.

"One of the things that, I think, is frustrating for fans, in general, is they don't quite understand the nuance that maybe the clubs do, because we have it explained to us in great detail,"

"The Bailey Smith one, that's just an error, and we should ignore that.

"Everyone who understands the nuance of that rule should just say, 'OK, ignore that, because it's an error.

"Mistakes happen all the time.

"If you're going to get frustrated, make sure it's not your own ignorance you're displaying for everyone"

The scoreboard might have remained respectable until late in the game, but the Suns never looked like challenging a team they destroyed by 56 points in March.

Cameron and unheralded forward Oli Wiltshire made the most of their limited possessions by kicking three goals each, while Ollie Dempsey, Ollie Henry and Shannon Neale all added two goals apiece.

The Max Holmes-led Cats were nowhere near their best, but still managed to easily account for Gold Coast.

Holmes (31 disposals and one goal) and fellow Cats ace Bailey Smith (27 and five clearances) outworked their midfield opponents.

The Suns barely fired a shot, despite coming off disappointing losses against North Melbourne and Brisbane.

The result leaves Gold Coast winless in 10 matches at Kardinia Park since they entered the AFL back in 2011.

Gold Coast (7-6) could finish the round as low as 10th, with a monster home clash with Hawthorn to come next week.

Defender Sam Collins stood tall early in his battle with Neale, while Brownlow medallist Matt Rowell recaptured some of his best form in a rare positive for the visitors.

But the Suns' frequent turnovers were capitalised on by Geelong, determined to make up for a poor showing in their inaugural 'White Out' match last year when they lost comfortably to Brisbane.

Geelong made a late change, bringing in prolific VFL midfielder George Stevens for Jack Bowes (hamstring).

The Cats (9-5, third) have six days to prepare for a blockbuster battle with ladder-leaders Fremantle at Perth Stadium on Thursday night.

AAP/ABC