WITH Gold Coast's No.1 ruck role up for grabs, Zac Smith thrust his hand high in the air with a dominant display against Geelong on Sunday.

Smith finished with 13 disposals and 28 hit-outs, and coach Rodney Eade described him as the Suns' best player in the eight-point win.

Suns too strong for Cats

Tom Nicholls is expected to line up against Greater Western Sydney next Saturday after overcoming a back injury, but Smith has now thrown down the gauntlet.

He attacked each contest – whether it be centre square, boundary throw-ins or loose balls around the ground – with ferocity.

It's a side of the 25-year-old's game the Suns coaching staff will be desperate for him to replicate on a weekly basis.

"I thought Zac played really well and wants to stamp his mark as our No.1 ruckman, so I thought it was a very pleasing performance," Eade said.

"I just think there's a bit of competition.

"Tom Nicholls will be available next week and Keegan (Brooksby) has been recruited as a third ruckman, but if Keegan plays well, he has a chance to play as well.

"I think Zac sees that competition there and wants to be No.1 at the club, so from our point of view it was a pleasing game."

Eade has been preaching a quicker, more aggressive game-plan during the pre-season, and said despite the humid and windy conditions in Townsville, he saw enough to suggest the players were listening.

"As all coaches know, we peach effort, and there was a few rusty bits and a few things that we can improve on - our skill and decision-making - but as far as effort is concerned I thought it was an A-plus," he said.

"I thought the younger, inexperienced players really pitched in. I was pleased with the whole team effort."

Zac Smith rises high to win a hit-out against Geelong on Sunday. Picture: AFL Media



Eade said young defenders Henry Schade and Jack Leslie did good jobs against their far bigger and more experienced opponents in Tom Hawkins and Mitch Clark.

Jack Martin, Sean Lemmens and Luke Russell will return for next week's match alongside Nicholls, while the likes of Gary Ablett, Dion Prestia, Steven May, Rory Thompson, Sam Day and Jaeger O'Meara are on track for a return against the Brisbane Lions on March 20.