Pre-season form is never the most reliable guide, but the Gold Coast Suns have received an early tick in their quest to crack the AFL finals picture for the first time.

With skipper Gary Ablett among a high-profile list of exclusions, a second-string Suns outfit held on for an encouraging eight-point victory over Geelong at Townsville’s Tony Ireland Stadium on Sunday.

Faces old and new starred with Michael Rischitelli, Harley Bennell, Zac Smith and recruit Mitch Hallahan among the best for Gold Coast in the 0.10.19 (79) to 1.9.8 (71) win.

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Hallahan, who was traded from Hawthorn last year, had a team-high 25 possessions while Smith had 28 hitouts as he continues to show promise in his comeback from two injury-wrecked seasons.

The match was on the line in the final term and after back-to-back goals from Mitch Clark in his return to AFL football, it appeared Geelong would take the ascendancy.

But in a welcome show of intent, the Suns were up for the challenge, fought back and grounded out the win despite a dramatic fightback from the Cats, who closed to within seven points in the final minute after a supergoal from Steven Motlop.

It was precisely the start Gold Coast coach Rodney Eade would have wanted in his first official match at the helm – and without the likes of Ablett, Dion Prestia, Jack Martin, Charlie Dixon, Sam Day, Steven May and Rory Thompson at his disposal.

Eade is under pressure to deliver the Suns this year what sacked predecessor Guy McKenna could not – finals football.

Geelong was held goalless in the second term as the Suns opened up an 18-point lead at halftime.

The Cats, who were minus the likes of captain Joel Selwood, Steve Johnson and Hamish McIntosh, were well served by Jimmy Bartel (26 possessions) and Harry Taylor (22) and came back to take the lead in the last quarter, only to be snuffed out by the Suns.

Clark did well in his first game since leaving Melbourne amidst a battle with depression in 2013, amassing two goals and nine touches in approximately three quarters of football.

Meanwhile, Eddie Betts kicked four goals to help the Adelaide Crows down a fast-finishing North Melbourne by 10 points in Port Lincoln.

New Crows skipper Taylor Walker attempts to mark in front of two North Melbourne players. Photo: Getty

Betts starred as the Crows, who led by 50 points at three quarter-time, held on to win 1.12.9 (90) to 0.11.14 (80) at Centenary Oval.

Luckless Adelaide forward Tom Lynch was concussed when collected by a Jack Ziebell hip in the first quarter as the Crows gave their new senior coach Phil Walsh a first-up win.

Lynch, whose 2014 was ruined by injuries, was perched over the ball when accidentally struck by Ziebell’s hip.

Lynch broke his neck in similar circumstances in round 20 last season, and also suffered a dislocated shoulder and broken jaw in separate injuries last year.

But the 24-year-old was cleared of serious injury after being stretchered from the field during a comprehensive win by the Crows.

Adelaide’s victory was built on prolific ball-winning feats of Brad Crouch (26 disposals) and Jarryd Lyons (20 disposals) while former captain Nathan van Berlo, replaced as leader by Taylor Walker this year, made a successful return.

Van Berlo, who missed all of last season with an Achilles injury, gathered 13 disposals and kicked the game’s only supergoal.

North, who took 20 minutes to register a score, were well served by Shaun Higgins (three goals, 17 disposals), Ben Cunnington (19 possessions) and Ryan Bastinac (18 disposals) while ex-Carlton forward Jarrad Waite booted three goals in his first competitive outing for his new club.

The Roos trailed by 25 points at halftime and were blitzed by Adelaide in the third term – the Crows booted six goals, including van Berlo’s long-range major, to North’s two and led by 50 points at the last change.

But North regained some respectability with a powerful finish, kicking 6.5 to Adelaide’s one point in the final quarter.

-AAP