Chris Scott has singled out Tanner Bruhn's successful AFL return as a positive to cling to after Geelong were humbled by Gold Coast in an opening-round rout.
The Cats trailed by 85 points late in the third term on Friday night, dragging it back over the final quarter in Carrara but still suffering a 19.11 (125) to 10.9 (69) loss.
Christian Petracca starred in his Suns debut, kicking three goals and collecting a game-high 34 disposals against last year's beaten grand finalists.
But Bruhn, who had a team-high 31 touches, four inside-50s and two score assists in his first game since the 2024 preliminary final, wasn't far behind him.
The 23-year-old missed last season while facing criminal charges.
Stood down by the AFL when charged with rape and intentional sexual touching, he was allowed to return once they were dropped last November when a prosecution witness admitted lying.
Scott on Tuesday labelled it "one of the most egregious injustices I can think of in the game" and admitted after Friday's game they'd missed Bruhn's ball-use and engine last year.
"There were some positives," he said.
"Always a hard thing to say in the immediate aftermath of a game like that but of all the positives, he's likely the most positive.
"If anything, it's galling we didn't have him. He was the player we needed at times last year.
"Probably what I was surprised by is just how good he is physically."
Scott said he'd remain "pretty calm" despite the result, saying that skill errors rather than attitude - plus the absence of injured pair Jeremy Cameron and Patrick Dangerfield - contributed.
He said both "didn't feel ready" and suspected others who did play were in a similar boat.
"We won't be overreacting," he said.
Both Dangerfield and Cameron are likely to be available to face Fremantle on Saturday.
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028
