GEELONG has to improve markedly to keep up with fellow pace-setters Hawthorn and Port Adelaide during the remainder of the season, Cats coach Chris Scott believes.
Speaking after his team ground out a five-point win over Richmond at the MCG on Sunday, Scott was happy with the Cats' win-loss record heading into the bye next weekend but he is already preparing for a tough run after the break.
"We knew we had some pretty important games to start the season, and we're a long way from playing our best footy, but we're six-and-one," Scott said.
"I think we're pretty content. We're in a good spot but well aware that we need to improve.
"I'd prefer that we were seven-zip, to be honest. I think we should win every game we play if we play our best. We've got high standards.
"But if you take a step back … it looks pretty good."
The Cats' only loss was to the Power in round six. But it came after they recorded a very impressive win over the Hawks in round five.
"I think we've been outstanding at times in the first seven weeks but at other times we've been pretty average," Scott said.
"So therein lies the challenge: to make sure that we can maintain that outstanding footy for longer periods."
The clash against Richmond was a roller-coaster affair.
Geelong led by 35 points 20 minutes into the second quarter but the Cats found themselves on the back foot when the Tigers started aggressively running the ball through the middle of the ground.
Scott refused to blame the previous week's tough hit-out against Port Adelaide for the fade-out, instead choosing to focus on his team's poor goalkicking.
Having booted 9.13 against the Power, the Cats kicked a wayward 11.15 against the Tigers in a game that was played in wet and windy conditions.
"I thought we handled the conditions really well early," Scott said. "We … made it really hard for them to score, and we looked like scoring off the back of that.
"But we didn't take our shots as well as we would've like to."
Scott was delighted with the way Cats skipper Joel Selwood stood up in the final term after he had been well held during the first three quarters.
"I don't think we had any players, really, that thought they were dominating the game and were well and truly on top," Scott said.
"But I think it's a mark of a great player if you can be struggling at times within games, when it seemingly isn't going your way, and just find a way to change things.
"And Joel has proven that on a number of occasions.
"I didn't think that this was his best game. But he was playing his best when the game demanded it."
Many of Geelong's players will enjoy a short holiday during the coming week, before returning to prepare for matches against Fremantle (Patersons Stadium), North Melbourne (Simonds Stadium) and the Sydney Swans (SCG) after the bye.
