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 their 'White Out' night with a 15.15 (105) to 8.12 (60) win in front of 30,276 fans.
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.Â
"We kicked relatively poor at goal, missed opportunities of connection inside 50, and they kicked some unbelievable goals," Suns coach Damien Hardwick said.
"The way we're playing is in reasonable shape, we've just got to execute moments a bit better."
Star Jeremy Cameron and unheralded forward Oliver Wiltshire made the most of their limited possessions by kicking three goals each.
Ollie Dempsey, Ollie Henry and Shannon Neale all added two goals each for the Cats as they returned to the winners' list following close losses against Carlton and Adelaide.
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.
Max Holmes from 60M OUT 😮@Coles | #AFLCatsSuns pic.twitter.com/GoneXpTeSB— AFL (@AFL) June 12, 2026
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 GMHBA Stadium 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 Friday night.
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.
"While some of their good players still did good things, we didn't think they all got away from us too much at one time," Geelong coach Chris Scott said of the Suns.
"It's a reflection of the way the whole team played, they still look dangerous at times.Â
"It just didn't look like it looked like in Opening Round where they just found ways to score that surprised us."
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 Optus Stadium on Thursday night.
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